How can I find a job in this economic environment?

In an economy where many workers submit more than 100 applications before finding a job (CNBC), I'd like to share some advice that helped me get two job offers with only 30 applications.

如何在這個經濟環境中找到工作?

在當前的經濟環境中，許多求職者需要投出超過 100 份履歷才可能獲得一個工作機會（來源：CNBC）。在這裡，我想分享一些幫助我在僅投出 30 份履歷的情況下，便獲得兩個錄取通知的經驗與建議。

Professional Network

Even if you currently have a job, it's still a good idea to continue to network, since you would be building the foundation for your future jobs. Go to MeetUps, join professional associations, and network. When you meet a new person at a networking event, focus on establishing a good professional rapport. It would not be a good idea to ask for a job right away, because that drives people away.

The best "job application" is your past performance in other positions. Contact previous managers, coworkers, and even classmates to grab a coffee with them and catch up. If they happen to know anyone who is hiring, they could refer you to them and be a reference. When you apply to a job on LinkedIn, you can see if you know anyone at that organization. Send them a message to ask how they like working at the company, then ask if they're willing to be your contact.

If you work at a big company, you can also consider internal transfers, which would be easier than finding a job at a different company. Hiring managers are more likely to hire internal transfers since they've already been vetted.

善用人脈網絡

即使你目前已有工作，仍然應該持續經營人脈，因為這會為你未來的機會打下基礎。可以參加 MeetUps、加入專業協會並積極拓展人脈。在社交活動中，應專注於建立專業上的良好互動，而不是一開始就直接要求工作，否則容易讓人卻步。

最好的「履歷」往往來自你以往工作的表現。聯繫你的前主管、前同事，甚至大學同學，約個咖啡聊聊近況。如果他們剛好知道有招聘資訊，就可能推薦你並成為你的推薦人。當你在 LinkedIn 上申請職缺時，可以查看自己是否認識該公司的員工，並傳訊息詢問他們對公司的看法，接著再請教是否願意成為你的內部推薦人。

如果你目前服務於一家大型公司，也可以考慮內部轉調。相比投遞到其他公司，內部轉職會更容易，因為你的背景已經過審核，主管更有可能錄用你。

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies are using ATS to screen through job applications (SelectSoftware Reviews) so understanding how to work with the ATS can improve your chances of getting through the first step. I highly recommend using tools such as JobScan, VMock, Teal, and others to tailor your resume and analyze each job description. Each job application should be tailored to the job posting.

When applying to jobs, I used JobScan to optimize each job application. The tool allows you to copy/paste the job description, as well as the link to the job posting so that it knows which ATS that company is using. Once you've copied/pasted your resume into the tool, it compares your resume to see how well it matches the job description. Aim for a score greater than 60 but less than 90. If the score is too high, you've most likely changed your resume to be too close to the job description.

Instead of using JobScan's AI resume writing feature, I used 3 LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini). I repeated the process of copying/pasting both the job description and my resume into the LLM, then prompted it to edit my resume to better match the job description. You may choose to copy/paste what the LLM generated, but do so bullet by bullet and make sure the newly written points actually reflect your experience. Personally, for each bullet point, I compared the results for the 3 LLMs and wrote my own by combining what I liked from all of them. Use these LLMs to check for grammar and spelling at the end.

Don't forget to quantify your achievements and do not be humble like we were taught in Taiwanese culture. You don't need to lie to exaggerate your accomplishments, but do not downplay them.

JobScan and similar tools help you analyze job descriptions. In your job application, be sure to use the specific terminology that each job posting uses. For instance, what might be called "project coordination" in Taiwan could be listed as "project management" in international markets. Additionally, use the exact phrasing of the job posting because software will only recognize exact matches.

Don't forget to highlight your ability to work across cultures as a competitive advantage. Your ability to bridge cultures and collaborate with cross-functional teams should be framed as a positive in the corporate world.

Logistically, try to apply as soon as the job posting is available, but take LinkedIn's numbers with a grain of salt. For example, some job postings state that there were over 100 applications within an hour of being posted, but those numbers may not be accurate because some applications may click on the "Apply" button but not actually send in their resume.

ATS 履歷篩選系統

超過 98% 的《財富 500》企業使用 ATS（Applicant Tracking System）來篩選履歷（來源：SelectSoftware Reviews），因此了解如何應對 ATS 對提高通過初步篩選的機率非常重要。我強烈建議使用 JobScan、VMock、Teal 等工具，針對每個職缺調整履歷，並分析職缺描述。

我在申請工作時，會搭配 JobScan 進行最佳化。這個工具允許你複製貼上職缺描述與連結，檢測該公司使用的是哪一種 ATS，然後再上傳履歷進行比對。系統會回報一個分數，建議控制在 60 分以上但不要超過 90 分。如果過高，代表你可能把履歷改得與職缺描述過於相似，反而顯得不自然。

我並沒有直接使用 JobScan 的 AI 履歷生成器，而是運用 ChatGPT、Claude 與 Gemini 三個 LLM。我的流程是將職缺描述與履歷一起貼進去，請 LLM 協助優化。結果會因模型不同而有所差異，因此我會逐條比較，最後再自己修改、融合成最貼切的版本。最後，還會利用 LLM 進行拼字和文法檢查。

千萬不要忘了將成果數據化，並避免過度謙虛（在台灣文化中特別常見）。不誇大，但也不要淡化你的成就。

像 JobScan 這類工具能幫助你分析職缺描述，申請時務必採用職缺公告中的用詞。例如，在台灣常見的「專案協調」在國際職場中可能會被稱為「專案管理」。另外，ATS 只辨識精確的詞彙，因此務必要使用和職缺公告一致的表述。

最後，別忘了突出你的跨文化優勢。能與不同文化、跨部門團隊合作，是企業極為看重的能力。

LinkedIn Optimization

If you use professional social networking websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and others, consider it your online resume. There are multiple LinkedIn optimization tools available, including one in JobScan. Use a current profile picture, a relevant background picture, a custom URL, a descriptive headline, and a concise About Section that tells a compelling summary of your professional career. More details can be written about LinkedIn optimization in the future.

LinkedIn 優化

如果你使用如 LinkedIn、Indeed 這類專業社交平台，應該把它當作你的線上履歷。LinkedIn 上有許多優化工具（包含 JobScan 的功能）。請確保使用近期的專業照片、相關的背景圖片、自訂 URL、有清楚的標題，並撰寫簡潔又有說服力的「自我介紹」，來總結你的職涯。未來還能進一步優化 LinkedIn 的每個細節。

Interviews

Use the same topic or chat that you used to tailor your resume for that job posting to help you generate interview practice questions. Most importantly, practice out loud, whether you practice in front of a mirror, record yourself on Zoom, or do mock interviews with a friend. If needed, you can use LLMs to generate responses. Take special care to work on grammar and pronunciation Practice to the point that your responses sound natural. Maintain a positive demeanor.

If I was invited to interview for a job, I would copy/paste copy/paste the chat history from the LLMs (if applicable) so I know which version of my resume I sent them. Additionally, I would copy/paste the job description to a Google Document, then tailor my responses to the job description. Furthermore, I copied/pasted the practice interview questions from the LLM chat history so that I can add notes, in a different color if needed. I used these Google Docs while practicing for each job interview.

Generally, most interviews will start with a question similar to "Tell me about yourself," so I would have two versions, a long one and a short one, that tailored my introduction to why I'm a good fit for this job and this company.

Lastly, you can also use LLMs to generate at least 5 questions you want to ask the interviewer. You want to prepare extra questions because sometimes the questions may be answered during the course of your interview.

面試準備

你可以延伸履歷優化時與 LLM 的對話，請其協助產出面試模擬題。最重要的是一定要口頭練習，不論是對著鏡子講、用 Zoom 錄影，還是找朋友模擬面試。若需要，也可以請 LLM 協助撰寫參考答案，但務必反覆練到自然流暢。注意發音與語法，並保持積極自信的態度。

我在面試準備時，會保存下 LLM 對話中的履歷版本，這樣能清楚記得我遞交了哪一份版本。同時，把職缺描述貼到 Google 文件中，針對內容準備相應的回答。模擬問答題也會整理到文件中，用不同顏色標註筆記，方便反覆練習。

大多數面試都會從「請介紹一下你自己」開始，因此我會準備一個長版與短版——兩種版本都會針對該公司、該職缺量身設計。

最後，也別忘了準備至少 5 個要問面試官的問題。之所以要準備多一點，是因為有些問題可能會在面試過程中已被回答。

Logistics

Use a spreadsheet to keep track of the jobs you apply to because when recruiters call you, they expect you to know which job you applied to. My columns included the date I applied, job title, company, pay range (if displayed on LinkedIn), job posting links, and responses.

求職紀錄與管理

使用試算表來紀錄申請的職缺。因為當獵頭或招聘人員打電話時，他們預期你應該記得申請過哪些工作。我的表格欄位包含：申請日期、職稱、公司名稱、薪資範圍（若公開）、職缺連結、是否收到回覆等。

Continuous Learning

Upskilling is crucial in the age of AI. I got a second Master's degree while working full time, but that's not always necessary. For example, many people get certificates from universities that require less coursework than a full Master's. You can also take classes on current topics on Coursera and post your completion certificate on LinkedIn.

持續學習

在 AI 時代，持續進修至關重要。我曾在全職工作的同時攻讀第二個碩士學位，但並非人人都需要這麼做。許多人會選擇修習大學的證書課程，工作量少於完整碩士學位，卻也能增加競爭力。你也可以選擇在 Coursera 上修讀最新主題的線上課程，並將證書發布到 LinkedIn。

Landing a job in today's competitive market requires a strategic, multi-faceted approach that goes beyond simply submitting applications. By leveraging your professional network, optimizing your materials for ATS systems, and preparing thoroughly for interviews, you can significantly improve your success rate. The key is to work smarter, not harder—tailor each application, maintain detailed records, and continuously develop your skills to stay competitive. Remember that job searching is a numbers game, but with the right strategies, you can reduce those numbers while increasing your chances of success. Stay persistent, maintain a positive attitude, and view each application and interview as a learning opportunity that brings you closer to your ideal role.

在當今瞬息萬變的就業市場中，單靠大量投履歷的方式效率並不高。運用人脈、熟悉 ATS、優化 LinkedIn、提前準備面試、持續進修，才能讓你在競爭中脫穎而出。

Practical Strategies to Land a Job in a Challenging Economy