I’m very disappointed to find so many job listings on Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter. I submitted over 100 applications in total for the month of September, yet nobody calls back. Often, I am immediately denied even when my qualifications match the job descriptions. What is going on? Is AI taking over and simply filing applications?

Some companies are using AI as the first level of screening. What you might try is reading the job description and tailoring your resume to match the verbiage in the Job Requirements as posted. Meaning: If you have the skills that are required as mentioned in the Job Posting, make sure your resume lists those skills using the same verbiage as you see in the Job Requirements.. There are usually Key words AI is set up to look for.

Yes a lot of places are using ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and AI resume screening tools for applications now to look for specific things in peoples resumes. But you can actually use AI’s like ChatGPT to help you get around this though or at least increase your chances of it choosing your resume to get through to an actual person.

Go to the AI you like best and ask it to help you make an AI-optimized resume, tell it the exact job title and employer (if you have one) or the type of job you’re applying for. Then share the job description or posting text (or just paste the important requirements/qualifications). If you have one already, provide your current resume (or if not then provide, at least, your experience, education, certifications, and skills in plain text). Finally, ask it to rewrite or restructure your resume so it:
1) Uses the keywords from the job posting (without keyword stuffing).
2) Matches the skills and qualifications the employer highlights.
3) Is ATS-friendly (simple formatting, no images/tables that confuse scanners).
4) Shows measurable impact (numbers, outcomes, improvements) where possible.

Jobs are the same way where I live right now and I think it’s like that all over the US right now honestly, but this is exactly what I did and on day 1 of my job search using my new AI-Optimized resume built from my original resume I applied to 10 jobs, by day 2 I had received texts, emails and calls from 9 out of the 10 places asking to set up an interview. Some of those texts were automated but with some of those I also received an additional 1-2 texts or emails (one automated and one from an actual recruiter or hr manager/director). All interviews I actually went through with setting up (I couldn’t go to all of them as quickly as they wanted me to) were real and wanted to see me within 1-2 days after I put in the initial application, on the same day as the interviews, I got multiple offers from those and was able to accept a job with one of them. I know how insanely hard it is for everyone to find jobs right now as I struggled for monthsss looking for one before I tried this (a professional resume maker told me what to do). So I’m posting this in no way shape or form to be “bragging” or anything like that, because as I said I also struggled for months and know it’s not easy, but in hoping this can help people secure a job as quickly as possible. It’s rough out here and we all need all the help we can get. I really hope this info helps somebody here out as much as it did me. Because it can’t be a coincidence that for months I had what was happening to you, happening to me, then on the first day of using this new resume to apply I get actual interview requests and job offers after those interviews from 90% of the places… that’s too much of a coincidence for me ignore. I can’t promise it will work for everyone or work that quickly, but it’s definitely worth trying, that’s what I told myself because atp what did I have to lose, right?

I'm in the exact same boat and I'm afraid my boat is sinking! I have been looking for employment for five months now. I was with my last employer for 23 years - job eliminated due to Federal Funding "uncertainties".

I am 56 years old - closer to 57. I'm in good health and not ready to retire anytime soon, but feel that ageism is real and present in today’s hiring environment.

I do not hold a bachelor’s degree. However, one would think that my solid real-world experience backed up by amazing references - glowing recommendation letters from my CEO and Director of Marketing from my most recent employer plus a resume outlining quantifiable and bona fide achievements would prevail over a piece of paper that says I went to college for four years. Let's be real and this is based on many conversations I've had with those that did attend college - that piece of paper represents nothing more other than that they specialized in playing beer pong for four years. And no, it doesn't apply to everyone...just saying.

My definition of AI is “avoiding insanity” as it can be very helpful in terms of content creation. However, you still need to put it in your "own voice" – which takes time. Everyone is catching on and using AI. So, what does that really provide the prospective employers in the end? Copious amounts of resumes that essentially mirror one another. A resume or a cover letter created by AI cannot discern a person's personality and whether they will be a good fit for the organization. That will only happen with a real conversation if you are lucky enough to get through the AI filters. Companies are missing out on truly talented people by using AI and ATS. I feel bad for the hiring managers and recruiters – they must end up wasting a lot of time with this “time saver”. Case in point, I have applied for jobs and received the “we found a better candidate” rejection email, a week or two later – the job posting for the exact same position is posted.
I’ve learned throughout my career to embrace and accept change, so here we go again. My best advice is to continue to apply for jobs but the best thing you can do is NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!

Run your resume through an ATS scanner. There are free ATS scanning sites available. AI is rejecting applications that don't contain specific keywords and/or formatting. I did that recently and have started to get more responses.

I used Gemini to modify my resume to better align with job postings. I also used it to predict the interview questions they might ask and suggest answers. I LinkedIn messaged hiring managers and got interviews at both places I reached out to. I ultimately got offers from both and took the one that interested me more. A person who fires off 100 applications is the kind of person they want to screen out . You’re not showing interest or pursuing any of those places at a level that shows you care.

Unfortunately most of the positions you see dont actually exist. Companies post ghost job openings to make their numbers look better and recruiters do it to make it look like they are working in order to maintain their own jobs. Going forward just remind yourself for every 100 applications you submit just know about 90% of them don’t actually exist

I had the same thing happen. I was able to hear back from them though. One individual seemed to have their applicant picked out and called me anyway to ask if I planned to move to their area for the job. I explained I own my home, my wife works where we are and I planned to commute 60 miles each day. They disqualified me right away stating I would be required to be in the office everyday. I acknowledged and agreed to it, but was tossed out anyway.

I can relate. Also I live in a city where not much job openings can be found in a month, not even 50 for my background.

They are posting jobs that aren’t really available and offering higher pay and a title such as a manger position but then when you get there it’s a front desk with less pay. They want to get over qualified people for low paying jobs hoping you’re a good candidate and desperate enough to say yes. The online interview usually theres a recruiter that’s sets everything up then emails the interviewer that guess what we put an interview on your schedule then the interviewer forgets or is so overwhelmed with what’s going on in the office there’s no stopping point to do the video interview. Consider this that you dodged a bullet. The best interviews are by who you know & word of mouth. that’s why the charismatic lazy jerks get the promotions. the talk themselves up to the right people & steal credit for others work & those are the people who end up being the decision makers

Hiring is a bit broken right now, I would recommend leaning into your network to get an introduction and just swallow any pride you have about asking friends for help or introductions.

Same here as well. I have been applying since Jan and have gotten 1 call so far.

You might need help with your resume, I would say it's worth getting someone to do it for you.

You gotta pump those numbers up. Im at 2k for the year, 2 interviews and endless unfortunately mornings

My daughter has had the same issue for the last 8 months . She's applied to hundreds of jobs and she has a bachelor's in healthcare administration with honors plus a medical assistant certification with 12 years experience on top of having some billing and coding and has not hardly had anybody call her back and the ones who have called her she's tested for sometimes 45 minutes on their required test just to have them wiped out or be told that they're going a different direction . Not even an interview .

I am right there with you

Your resume has to be tweaked to bypass AI. Simple process takes a little longer to compile your resume. Also keep a master resume with everything on it, i.e. hire dates addresses, names, references. Get someone to call and check your references see what they are saying. I usually only have the people I head hunt for only go 4-6 weeks unemployed at max.

Job searching for 5 months and I have experienced the same thing. I have even applied for different jobs that my skills can be used and I feel the interviewers are very antagonistic towards me for leaving my job and wanting a new career path. You would think they would be happy to have someone wanting their job they posted.

100% agree. Going to the actual company websites to confirm they actually have the job available, and applying through them, but it is so disheartening.

I even took suggestion from one potential employer to have ChatGPT revise my resume for each specific job listing (which would hit the keywords if they do an initial AI scan) and still can't get a nibble. I'm scraping for freelancing gigs on upwork until I find a legit job, but have had 2 scams there as well. I really want to work!

I think most of these companies are just collecting resumes. Even after they've filled the vacancy, they leave the ads online to see what else they can find. When a position becomes available, they contact you and say hey I found your resume on Indeed!

You must understand that they are harvesting and we are the crops.

I think a big reason so many job listings vanish without a response has less to do with applicants and more to do with how companies structure their hiring pipelines.

For example, Microsoft laid off about 15,000 employees in 2025, yet public records show the company also filed roughly 4,700 H-1B Labor Condition Applications that same year — nearly one for every person let go. These filings are the first step to bringing in foreign workers under the H-1B visa program.

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes: U.S. labor law doesn’t always require companies to hire or even seriously consider U.S. workers before filing for H-1Bs. As long as they post a job and keep documentation, they can say they made the position “available” locally, even if they already know who they plan to sponsor. That’s why you sometimes see hundreds of roles open, stay unfilled for months, then disappear.

The end result is what many applicants are noticing — people applying to real-looking jobs that were never intended to be filled through open recruiting. It’s legal under current rules, but it’s also one reason the system feels broken for domestic job seekers.

That's so true!!! I have had applied for a lot of positions which my skills knowledge and qualifications are the perfect match, nobody has ever contacted me not even viewed my applications. Now I was wondering what's the point to sacrifice to get a college degree