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?

AI is exactly the issue. And if you’re not one of the first few , they may just be not checking your application.

I have sent out hundreds of resumes, with little to no response.

I have had by resume reviewed by 3 different companies that excel in writing resumes, along with employment companies that match and place workers in jobs.

Despite that, I still, get hardly ANY response to my resume.

I have two degrees, I have won outstanding awards with companies that I've worked for, and I have held the title for most dollars sold of all women in the company.

I still can't get hired, anywhere, and this is years of trying now! So I've about given up.

I can honestly say that it has nothing to do with my resume, since so many young people, and people in the field have made some revisions, that have not resulted in promoting my resume, or myself, enough, to even get an interview or a phone call.

I do believe that ageism is the culprit here. Even though it's illegal to ask for a person's age, the companies ask when you graduated from college, and it is required to fill this out on any online application; if not, the application process won't complete.

Once they have this information, I believe a resume is already "booted" out of the system, so no one even sees your resume, ever. This is a big waste of time, plus so very frustrating, for us diligently seeking a job, plus we need income, to live.

Rather than pursuing traditional employment, position yourself as an independent consultant and seek clients instead of employers. Transform your approach by developing a portfolio of case studies and project examples, moving beyond the conventional resume format.

I haven't even put out 50 resumes yet and I've had about 10 interviews already (if you count multiple interviews per company as you go through the process). I now have an interview with the company that laid me off... in another department. Then, I will likely get through that and will be on to the system design, SDLC, and coding interviews next.

Why? Well, I did receive some rejection emails like everybody else. But I expected some of that. I have plans for reducing that, but haven't taken that step yet. It involves getting certain certifications and adding them to my resume to bolster things more. I think the main reason I'm getting through the AI filter is that I used AI (ChatGPT) to forge my resume to get past the AI filter. It appears to be working to some degree. It isn't perfect, but I have some traction. Not only that, but the jobs are paying double what I was making before, including the new potential job at the same company that laid me off.

Another tip: go to company's direct career websites and apply there. If you know somebody who works somewhere, get them to refer you internally. Work your network and see where coworkers moved and if there are openings for you there. Good luck!!

You do realise most of these sites do not have your interests at heart, but their own. Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter are all in it to make a buck for themselves. Why would they be concerned about landing you a job, when they can make money from selling your data to third parties and feeding you ads, while giving you false hope so that you keep on applying and applying and feeding their machine? Apply, but don't get your hopes up. Sheer desperation has forced me here as well.

I agree! I put in so many applications and nobody gets back to you. At this point im not even looking for work in my field anymore!

Same problem. Even care.com

Same here!

I am having the same experience. I will see a job title and pay that look like a good fit, only to find the listing has been removed. There are a lot of scam job listings.

The remote jobs are given to low salary applicants in east Europe and Asia . Why does a company need to pay western salaries for a remote worker?

Using AI to create a resume and a cover letter is the only way that I finally got a job. I was looking for two years, using resumes and cover letters created by employment counselors. 0. AI opened doors for me that would've stayed closed.

That’s a lot of applications for a month! Are you sending customized cover letters with each resume? I would suggest not just sending out resigned without cover letters. Especially highlighting skills maybe not specifically noted in your resume. If you are immediately rejected, could be an AI issue.

It’s like that on all these job websites looking for employment , it’s sad these place put it out there that they need help but yet never call you back but I do believe AI is a part of the problem with finding employment I believe when you submit a resume it looks to see if qualifications match job if not it kicks your app out. Which I think is horrible bc a person can be trained to do a job

For those who have applied for jobs a lot. I have been working remotely in the blockchain and crypto space for some time now. I can share my knowledge and experience in this field with those who are interested.

Portfolio

Absolutely!
AI's influence in the job market is profound and alarming. We're witnessing a rise in fake job postings and misleading interviews, where candidates believe they’re engaging with real individuals, only to find out it’s AI. Conversely, companies are interviewing candidates who invest weeks in preparation, only to later realize they weren't interacting with genuine people. This not only wastes valuable time but also erodes trust in the hiring process, making it increasingly difficult for humans to find legitimate opportunities—and it skews unemployment rates, as fake “people” secure real jobs.

As someone from a tech-first company, I've observed this trend escalate alarmingly. It raises a critical question: How can job seekers navigate this landscape when so many companies prioritize speed and competitiveness over genuine engagement? The job search has become increasingly daunting, leaving candidates frustrated and uncertain about the authenticity of available opportunities.

Bureau of Labor Statistics has not released a jobs report this month because of the shut down. I know the job market is weak and employers know it too. I have seen job openings where the starting pay is extremely low. So low that you cant afford basic needs on the pay offered. I fear this will be the norm for a while.

Same or as of this week jobs appearing in my email alert feed are discovered to be expired, removed or do not exist. Ghosted and feel like I am only feeding a data collection software application for free. And let's not forget the endless time spent as suggested on those tailored to job fit cover letters.

This happens all the time, me and my best friend have also experienced it in the past though thankfully we are both currently employed. You have to remember that some jobs have very many candidates applying for that same position and sometimes, even if everything is good on your resume, you still might not get the interview.