Articles

Learning to use AI tools effectively is one of the most practical steps a job seeker can take right now. You do not need to become a developer. You need to understand the tools well enough to use them confidently in the roles employers are hiring for.

AI hiring tools can improve the consistency and speed of candidate assessment, but accuracy depends entirely on how well the tools are configured, what they are measuring, and whether human judgement remains part of the process.

Great businesses don’t always begin with big budgets. They start with belief, courage, and an idea that’s worth backing. At Reed, entrepreneurship is part of who we are, our founder Sir Alec Reed started the company in 1960 with just £75 and a vision for something bigger. Now, we want to encourage young people to take those same bold first steps and support the next generation of entrepreneurs. The Reed Entrepreneurs Fund is here to give young founders the funding and expert guidance they need to turn fresh ideas into real, successful businesses.

When we launched Reed.ai in late July, I thought the hardest part was over. In reality, it was just the beginning. The first 90 days after launch have been some of the most intense, humbling, and—at times—frustrating moments of my six-year career at Reed. But I’ve also learned more in these three months than during all the months of design and development combined.

Reed.ai's Beta is just 12 weeks old and I’ve been reflecting on what we’ve learned so far. This phase has been fast, energising, and collaborative. Five themes have stood out that are shaping how we build from here.

January is often associated with fresh starts and new goals. Blue Monday is commonly linked to the day when we see a high number of job applications, as the winter blues peak and people start thinking about what’s next.

It’s December, the end of 2025. We’re all tired and ready to take a break. Hiring stops, it’s a 2026 problem to solve. The new year comes, and the market is flooded with new years expectations. Things get noisy, job ads, recruiters and candidates all moving at once. Some have true intent, but others don’t. This happens every year. And every year, most businesses decide to wait until January to start hiring. But here is my view, December is your competitive advantage.

As a Business Development Manager at Reed.ai, I spend my days talking to hiring teams and candidates. After a long period of job vacancy decline, a clear pattern has emerged; the biggest bottleneck isn’t a lack of talent or opportunity; it’s the sheer volume of manual, repetitive work slowing everyone down.