Sapphire Ventures Business Insider Job-seekers will have to work hard to stay competitive in 2021. We asked recruiters in industries like media, finance, and tech how to stand out and impress a hiring manager. The recruiters told us about showcasing your willingness to learn, telling the interviewer how you can solve their problems, and investing in your professional development. Finding a new gig in 2021 will look a lot different than it did in early 2020. The job-seeker's market has been replaced by a global recession , in which millions of people in the US alone are out of work. Hiring tends to pick upin January, when companies have brand-new budgets. But when you apply for a role, there's a good chance you'll be competing against hundreds — or thousands — of other applicants.