State of the Proposals Professional Job Search, 2025

By Steve Szczeblowski, MLIS

I have 10 years of proposals experience across a number of industries. Since being downsized this April, I’ve been engrossed in an ongoing job search. I’ve noticed some changes in the process, since I was last actively looking for work in the Spring of 2023. After over 120 job applications, with 16 leading to interviews, I can report on the following:

What’s New

• More automated replies: Rather than just not hearing back at all from employers, I’ve been getting more rejection notices (usually automated from no-reply addresses) for about half of my applications, which at least beats no reply at all.
• The AI interviewer: “Hi, this is Alex, a virtual AI recruiter”…Thus started an employer’s text, inviting me to call “Alex” back. When I did, I expected either to schedule a human interview or perhaps endure a short screening call. Instead, I was subjected to a full, half-hour interview, complete with classic interview questions, such as “Tell me about a time when…” Although I was clearly not expecting this situation, I completed the call. While the AI persona could get “thrown” by noises or my interruptions, “she” would correct herself and would even repeat keywords or phrases from my interview answers as she commended my answers in real time. Be aware of this practice, in order to anticipate the possibility of an AI-directed interview.
• The one-way video interview: Along with the AI interviewer, another method to spare or delay human interaction is the one-way or self-recorded interview, where a third-party website records your time-limited interview answers for an employer. I’ve had two of these interviews so far; one where I could re-record my responses and one where I could not (here, I had the option to only submit or skip my response, which of course would count against me). Speaking to a non-existent entity can be an unpleasant experience, as is watching your onscreen performance and wishing you could edit/re-record your answers.
• Published Salary Ranges: Definitely more job ads in 2025 are providing a salary range for positions, though seeing a 30 thousand dollar or more gap may not be all that helpful.

What’s the Same

• The Scams: Scams are unfortunately still around as they were a few years back. I’ve had requests for resumes, interviews and even job offers come my way from various job sites. The most complex attempt happened when a Swedish company’s recruiter messaged me and convinced me to chat via a sent link. When a job offer and a bogus-looking check appeared in my inbox I broke contact, later to find that the actual recruiter’s profile had been hacked.
• Ghosting: Though not as seemingly prevalent as a few years ago, many companies will re-post the same job ad repeatedly over several months, leading one to speculate if there’s even a viable existing position.

Good News / September Surge
The so-called “September Surge”, which describes an increase in job openings and postings from about Labor Day through Halloween, seems to be off to a good start this year for proposal-related roles as I write this post (September 7th). I’ve noticed several new job listings over the past few weeks, which have resulted in three interviews, including my first in-person meeting since 2021. Whether or not you are employed at the moment, I hope you find these points to be of help!