The Tech Job Market Feels Tough Right Now… But That Doesn't Mean You Should Apply for More Jobs

If you're looking for your next role in tech, chances are you've felt frustrated at some point over the last year.

Applications disappear into the void, recruitment processes take longer and good roles can attract hundreds of applicants. Sometimes you seem to tick every box and still don't get an interview.

There is a reason the market feels more competitive. The latest ONS figures show there were around 712,000 UK vacancies in April to June 2026, with 2.5 unemployed people for every vacancy.

We're seeing that competition in tech recruitment too, and it's easy to think the answer is to apply for more jobs.

From what we're seeing, it usually isn't.

Being busy doesn't always mean you're making progress

I often ask candidates, "How many jobs have you applied for?"

Sometimes it's 50, 100 or even more. But when I ask how many they genuinely wanted, the answer is usually very different.

Applying for every vaguely suitable role is exhausting and rarely the best use of your time. A more targeted search gives you more time to research the opportunity, tailor your application and focus on roles you would actually accept.

Decide where you actually want to work

Instead of spending every evening refreshing job boards, identify the businesses you'd genuinely like to join.

Think about:

• Who's growing or investing?

• Who's doing interesting things with technology?

• Which products, projects or problems interest you?

• Where could your experience genuinely add value?

Then follow those businesses, connect with people who work there and pay attention to what they're doing.

You don't need to immediately ask for a job. Getting to know the businesses you'd like to work for means you're better placed when an opportunity does arise.

Make LinkedIn work harder for you

One of the biggest missed opportunities we see is a LinkedIn profile that simply repeats a CV.

Go beyond job titles and responsibilities. Show people:

• What you've built or delivered

• The problems you've solved

• The technologies you know well

• The projects you're proud of

• What you'd like to do next

Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for more than a job title. Make it easy for them to understand your experience and where you could add value.

Keep learning, but learn with purpose

There will always be another programming language, framework or AI tool you could learn.

You don't need to chase every trend.

Look at the roles you want and pay attention to the skills and technologies that keep appearing. If there's a genuine gap in your experience, use some of your job-searching time to work on it.

A relevant project, new skill or deeper understanding of a technology could do far more for your next application than sending another ten CVs.

Build recruiter relationships before you need them.

Recruiters aren't only useful when there's a live vacancy.

We spend every day speaking to technology businesses about their plans, the skills they're struggling to find and the people they may need next.

We won't always have the right opportunity today. But if we already know what you're good at, what motivates you and where you want your career to go, we're much more likely to think of you when something relevant comes up.

One final thought

Don't measure the success of your job search purely by the number of applications you've

submitted.

Focus on:

• The businesses you've researched

• The relationships you're building

• The quality of the applications you're making

• The skills you're strengthening

• The meaningful conversations you're having

Because the right opportunity often starts with a conversation long before it starts with an application.

Source: Office for National Statistics, UK labour market and vacancies data, July 2026.