As experts in executive search, we live and breathe the sectors we operate in and always want to make our business, and those we work with better. We spoke with Fiachra Moloney, Global Chief Marketing Officer at BLOOM FRESH who was on the market himself this time last year, to garner insights from a candidates point of view about the job hunt. Here’s what Fiachra had to say:
When reflecting on the job market, especially from the perspective of someone who has been both inside an organisation hiring for multiple roles and outside searching for one, a few key themes emerge. There’s very little negative to say about any one individual, but consistent challenges point to bigger, systemic issues within the recruitment process. Whether you’re a candidate or a recruiter, many experiences today are transactional, often leaving job seekers feeling like they’re shouting into a void.
Too Many Candidates, Too Few Jobs (or so it seems)
In today’s competitive job market, one of the biggest frustrations for candidates is, what seems like, the sheer volume of applicants versus the limited number of available roles. Whether it is more prevalent today than it was 10 years ago I can’t say, but something has definitely broken down in the process that has led to interactions that are brief, surface-level, and often feel transactional.
It can be disheartening. You might spend a half-hour in conversation with a recruiter, only for them to re-introduce themselves three months later as if that interaction never happened. In such cases, it’s difficult to believe that anyone truly has your interests at heart. And if you’re lucky enough to be shortlisted for a role, you might feel like their best friend—until the process ends just as quickly as it began.
A Changing Perspective: From In-Job to Job Seeker
The difference in treatment when you’re employed versus when you’re a job seeker is stark. I experienced years of recruiters knocking down my door, eager to get in touch. But the moment I was the one knocking, the relationship dynamic shifted. At best, conversations felt transactional.
At worst, I was simply ghosted.
So, why is this happening? It’s not just about the number of candidates—it’s about how recruitment is handled. Candidates feel like they are forced to ‘play the numbers game’ often applying for things that they know they are not right for. And the recruiters are inundated with very experienced people without the time or resources to get to know them. So it feels like they resort to finding people who have done that exact job in the past.
The Problem with Box-Ticking
In today’s market, it can feel like even ticking 8 out of 10 boxes on a job description isn’t sufficient. The sheer volume of candidates means that recruiters often look for those who tick every single box, rather than focusing on the value that an individual candidate can bring. To do this type of recruitment well, it needs a level of self-awareness from the hiring organisation to understand where their gaps are and then look for people from industries and backgrounds that may be able to complement and strengthen the whole team.
I was fortunate to be hired not despite my lack of experience in a particular industry, but because of it. My background allowed me to bring a fresh perspective, particularly around consumer understanding and creating category value. But this required the senior leadership to be both brave enough to take a chance on someone with different experience to the industry they were in, and humble enough to recognise there might be different ways to think about the challenges and opportunities of the organisation.
It’s this kind of thinking—looking beyond category expertise—that is often missing in recruitment. Companies need to recognise that experience, especially cross-industry, is an asset. Luckily, BLOOM FRESH consistently looks at how we can improve and that means not sticking with the status quo – it is a company with personal, professional and industry growth in its DNA.
Building Relationships in the Job Market
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job search wasn’t landing a new role, but rebuilding relationships. I reached out to people I hadn’t spoken to in 10 years and, initially, I felt embarrassed. Would they think I was being transactional? But every single person I contacted met my outreach with positivity. Not only did I reconnect, but I’ve since been able to help some of them in return.
But more importantly that trying to pay people back, it is a reminder to pay it forward. You never know when a simple act of reaching out might benefit you or others down the line.
Lessons Learned:
You are not alone
Looking back, if I could offer one piece of advice to someone in a similar situation, it would be this: remind yourself that what you see on LinkedIn isn’t the full story. It’s a set of curated highlights focusing only on people’s achievements (or some strategic ‘failures into success’ stories). It is not a true reflection of someone’s working life. So while it’s a useful and important tool on the job search, it can also bring a lot of negative energy. Use LinkedIn, but don’t let it use you.
Instead, find a small group of trusted colleagues or friends and use them as a sounding board rather than relying on social media. It’s easy to feel like you’re underachieving when you’re constantly bombarded with other people’s successes, but remember, those posts don’t show the whole picture.
Be Proactive About Your Career
If I could have my time again, I would have spent more time while I was employed seeing my career development as an ongoing process. When you’re working for a company where people tend to stay for long periods, it’s easy to become insular and lose sight of what’s happening outside your immediate environment.
You have to be proactive. No matter how safe you think your job is or how stable your company seems, it’s crucial to take charge of your own career. Always be in the conversation, always keep your network open, and don’t wait until you’re job hunting to start building relationships.
I was given this advice and, at the time, I ignored it. Now I see how important it really is.
In a competitive job market, staying relevant is key. But relevance doesn’t come from simply knocking on doors—it comes from building relationships, maintaining a proactive approach to your career, and keeping a clear perspective on what matters. The job search process might feel overwhelming at times, but remember, you’re not alone. Focus on building connections and offering help where you can, and in time, you’ll see the benefits come back around.