The ultimate guide to getting a job: Recruiters, job seekers, and execs reveal top tips

If you're looking for a job, we know things feel grim.

White-collar hiring has slowed, and many people are clinging to their jobs even if they're unhappy. The competition for open roles remains fierce. With job applications piling up and layoffs, budget cuts, and economic uncertainty haunting both people and businesses, a job market that feels "meh" could soon get a lot worse.

At Business Insider, we're constantly studying the changing workplace and collecting the most up-to-date expert advice for job-seekers. We've tapped HR managers, recruiters, career coaches, and executives for their best advice on everything from crafting a standout resumé to networking your way to a final offer.

We've also talked to dozens of non-experts — regular people who've managed to break through and land dream job offers — and asked them to share their job search happy endings and hard-won wisdom.

Below you will find a list of the top AI skills to make yourself marketable, the new rules all job-seekers need to know in 2025, and the most unforgettable cover letter a long-term recruiter ever received. A tech worker who landed six-figure roles at Meta and Google by finding the "third door" shared his trick for breaking into companies and the exact résumé he uses. A 37-year-old account manager who found a job five months after being laid off shared how he did it — and how he never lost his optimism. An ex-Amazon VP who's viewed 10,000-plus résumés in his career revealed the most common mistakes he's seen and how to fix them.

Now more than ever, it's imperative for job-seekers to stand out from the pack. Here's how experts told us today's job seekers can do just that.

What the pros say

Real-world success

Give yourself an edge

Level up your résumé

Credits

Reporters: Charissa Cheong, Alyshia Hull, Aki Ito, Christine Ji, Robin Madell, Michelle Mastro, Tim Paradis, Melissa Petro, Jacob Zinkula, Ana Altchek, Sarah Needleman

Editors: Eric Bates, Emily Canal, Kiera Fields, Clementine Fletcher, Lauryn Haas, Manseen Logan, Akin Oyedele, Debbie Strong, Jane Zhang, Cadie Thompson, Julia HerbstExpert Panel: Ethan Evans, Andrew Yeung, Madeline Mann, Marnie Lemonik