7th March 2025

Le Wagon x Give a Grad a Go: Job market insights & recruitment tips 📝

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The Australian job market is shifting, and for grads and bootcamp engineers, standing out is more important than ever. While job vacancies remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, competition is fierce. Having a smart, targeted approach to job searching is essential!

At Give a Grad a Go, we help early career professionals navigate this evolving landscape. In partnership with Le Wagon, we hosted a webinar to break down the latest market trends and share practical recruitment tips to help you land the right role.

From crafting tailored applications to networking like a pro, this guide covers everything you need to know to maximise your job search in 2025.

What’s happening in Australia’s job market?

Australia’s unemployment rate peaked at 4.2% in July 2024 before gradually dropping to 4%, where it remains as of January 2025.[1] [2]

Recent data from the ABS shows a rise in online job ads in January 2025. This comes after a downward trend, with job vacancies decreasing in 10 of the past 12 months. Despite this, vacancy levels are still high: 31% above the 2019 monthly average.[3]

Seek also reported a 5.1% increase in job ads in January 2025, marking the biggest monthly rise since October 2021. This follows three months of declines.[4]

At the same time, competition remains fierce. The number of applications per job ad dropped slightly (0.1%) for the second month in a row, but application levels are still historically high.[5]

Tech trends for 2025

By 2024, the global developer population is expected to hit 28.7 million, a jump of 3.2 million since 2020.[6]

Programming languages come and go, but JavaScript and HTML/CSS continue to dominate. In a global survey, over 60% of developers reported using JavaScript and HTML/CSS, with SQL, Python, and Java rounding out the top five.[6]

As technology and data-driven industries expand, the demand for diverse skills is only growing.

What does this mean for graduates?

Tailor, tailor, tailor

Customise your resume and application for each job. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds scanning a resume; make it immediately clear why you’re the right fit. Highlight your most relevant skills and experience up front.

With job vacancies declining in 2024, competition is tougher. But there are still more opportunities than before the pandemic, you just need to position yourself strategically. [7]

Embrace flexibility

More applicants mean fewer guarantees. Keep an open mind:

Consider contract roles that build the skills and experience you need. These can lead to permanent positions.
Look for related industries or roles that align with your career goals. These can be temporary stepping stones to the fields you are really interested in.
Explore sectors you haven’t considered before; curiosity can open unexpected doors.

Stay proactive and trust the process

Job hunting takes time, but consistency is key:

Set clear goals. Apply to a set number of jobs each week, grow your LinkedIn network, and track progress to stay motivated.
Focus on what you can control. Keep refining your resume, improving interview skills skills, and networking.
Use slow periods wisely. Take courses, work on projects, or build skills that make you stand out. Stay patient and trust that the effort you put in will pay off!

Q&A: Sara's top tips

Not at all! Many job ads list ‘nice-to-have’ requirements rather than strict must-haves. If you meet most of the core skills and can show you’re a fast-learner, apply anyway. Employers often hire based on potential, especially for junior roles. You’ve go to be in it to win it!
I’d start by getting clear on what you want: industry, role, and work environment. Then focus on networking. Reach out to professionals in your field, learn from them, and build your online presence (LinkedIn, portfolio, GitHub etc.).

Treat applications like a job in itself: spend time tailoring each one, stay consistent, follow up, and use alumni networks, events, and recruiters. I love a spreadsheet; a tracker for applications, processes, networking numbers etc. can help you stay accountable and motivated.
Yes, but frame it well. Instead of saying, “I need a job,” try: “I’m really interested in [industry/role] and would love to hear about your experience.” People are more likely to help if they feel they’re offering guidance rather than just a job lead.
Use your network! There’s always someone who has been through the process before. Reach out to alumni, former grads, or professionals in your field. Also, research common topics for the role, practice coding problems or case studies, and try mock interviews. The best tool for any interview is preparation – confidence comes from knowing you’re ready.
Use networking to act like a sponge. Soak up all their knowledge, past experiences, and wisdom to guide your job search. Ask about their career journey: “How did you get into this field?” Learn about the role: “What do you wish you knew when starting out?” Get practical advice: “What skills do you see in successful grads?”
Don’t undervalue your experience! Le Wagon is a globally recognised bootcamp. Showcase your skills with a clear portfolio. Also, highlight experience from casual roles, internships, and previous jobs – transferable skills matter. Employers are looking for problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability, not just coding knowledge.
Once you’re in the interview room, you’re already winning. They’ve chosen you for a reason. Focus on what you know, explain your thinking clearly, and don’t stress about sounding like a senior engineer; they don’t expect that!
Keep it simple. Use clear formatting and include keywords from the job description. Avoid creative designs, images, or text boxes that AI might not read properly. With AI, I like to think there isn’t much reading between the lines as there would be if a human were reading your resume. Be direct: instead of “Built an innovative app,” say “Developed a React-based web app used by 2,000+ users.”