How changing communication habits are shaping careers and why professional connections still matter
I first wrote this blog in 2019 and thought it was time for a 2026 refresh.
A lot has changed since then.
AI can help write CVs and cover letters. Applications can be submitted in seconds. LinkedIn, Teams, email, and messaging platforms now dominate many professional interactions.
Yet despite these advances, one thing remains remarkably consistent:
Careers are still built on people, relationships, and communication.
The Way We Communicate Has Changed
Over the years, I’ve noticed a clear shift in how professionals prefer to communicate.
For many experienced professionals, career discussions often began with a phone call. If you wanted information, you picked up the phone. If you wanted to learn about an opportunity, you started a conversation.
Today, many professionals prefer email, messaging platforms, or social media. Communication is often faster, more convenient, and better suited to busy schedules.
Neither approach is right or wrong. They simply reflect different ways of working.
What I do wonder, however, is whether we’ve unintentionally lost some valuable opportunities to connect along the way.
Why Connection Still Matters
At mexec, we often include our phone number in job advertisements.
We don’t do that because we expect every applicant to call. We do it because we want candidates to know there’s a real person available if they’d like to learn more about the role.
Most candidates don’t take up that opportunity, and that’s perfectly understandable. People are busy, and many feel they already have the information they need.
Occasionally, though, a candidate does reach out, and those discussions often provide insights that aren’t obvious from a position description alone.
Candidates gain a deeper understanding of:
- The team and leadership style
- Business priorities and challenges
- Company culture
- What success looks like in the role
- Whether the opportunity genuinely aligns with their career goals
At the same time, recruiters gain a better understanding of:
- A candidate’s motivations
- Career aspirations
- Relevant experience
- Communication style
- Potential long-term fit
Whether the outcome is a strong match or simply a clearer understanding of the opportunity, both sides leave better informed.
Recruitment is About More Than Documents
A CV outlines your experience, but context often reveals the impact behind it.
This is particularly true in specialised industries such as life sciences, biotechnology, agtech, medical devices, diagnostics, and healthcare, where technical expertise and industry experience can be difficult to fully capture in a few pages.
If a recruiter or hiring manager offers an opportunity to connect, consider taking it. It may not lead to an interview, but it can provide valuable insights, expand your professional network, and help you make a more informed career decision.
Many people can look back on their careers and identify a discussion, introduction, networking event, or chance meeting that unexpectedly opened a door.
Those opportunities still exist today.
Technology is a Tool, Not a Substitute
Technology has made job searching more efficient than ever.
AI can help candidates prepare applications, identify transferable skills, and tailor documents more quickly. Used well, these tools can be highly valuable, but they should enhance your thinking, not replace it.
One of the most common mistakes I continue to see is candidates applying before they have fully understood the role.
If you don’t genuinely understand what’s required, it’s difficult to explain why you’re the right person for the position.
And as AI-generated applications become more common, many submissions are beginning to sound remarkably similar. One US client noted that of 70 applications they have for a role in Car – T they All looked the same.
The candidates who stand out are typically those who demonstrate genuine understanding, authentic experience, and a clear connection between their background and the role requirements.
Read the Position Description Carefully
This is one piece of advice from my 2019 article that remains just as relevant today.
Before applying, take the time to carefully review the position description. Identify:
- Key responsibilities
- Essential selection criteria
- Relevant technical skills
- Industry experience requirements
- Highly desirable qualifications or expertise
Whether you use a printed copy, a Word document, or AI-assisted analysis, the objective is the same:
Understand what the employer is actually looking for.
Once you understand the requirements, make it easy for the reader to see the alignment.
Don’t assume they’ll connect the dots.
Show them.
Clearly demonstrate how your experience, achievements, and expertise relate to the role.
Don’t Overlook the Differentiators
One area candidates often miss is the “highly desirable” criteria listed towards the end of a position description.
These points can sometimes be the factors that separate strong candidates from standout candidates.
For example:
“Expertise in cancer research is highly desirable.”
Candidates often focus on the essential criteria, but highly desirable experience may provide a significant competitive advantage.
If you possess that experience, make it prominent.
Don’t hide it on page three of your CV. Bring it forward in both your CV and cover letter.
For example:
“I bring more than 10 years of experience in cancer research, combined with strong stakeholder engagement and project leadership experience.”
The easier you make it for employers to identify relevant experience, the easier it becomes for them to understand your value.
Before You Hit Apply
Before submitting your next application, pause and ask yourself:
- Have I fully understood the role?
- Do I clearly meet the key criteria?
- Have I highlighted what differentiates me?
- Have I tailored my application to this opportunity?
- Is there value in speaking with someone involved in the process?
Technology will continue to change how we search for jobs and how organisations hire.
What won’t change is the importance of understanding the opportunity, communicating your value clearly, and building meaningful professional relationships.
Read carefully. Think critically. Connect when it adds value. Then make it easy for employers to see why you’re the right fit.
A strong application may open the door, but understanding the opportunity and building professional relationships can help shape the career that follows.
