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?

Adp released the job creations report. They were expecting 54,000+ new jobs created, but there were -3,000 instead. We lost more jobs than were created.

I think the term used that I have heard is called job hugging or the incumbent employees are doing everything they can to hang onto their jobs as there are not a lot of jobs out there or they’re being ghosted for use later by the employer the applicant pool that is.

Additionally, ChatGPT I have had much success with, and the employers are making it extremely difficult with intensive background checks and other forms of screening on the prospective applicant .

I think from the employers perspective, there is much uncertainty about the new tariffs in the impact that will have on their companies. Thus the biggest expense is labor so many are positioning with a wait and see attitude.

Many employers are focused on the level of experience and not so much on degrees and accreditation.

Just some thoughts

As of late, I noticed background investigations have become a key component with the company and the hiring manager, and they can be very intensive yet another hurdle for some that may have issues in this area

The reason being, companies are looking to hire the cheapest help possible, they’re not concerned with your tenure. I live in South Florida, and unless you speak Spanish, you’re lying dead in the water.. I’m 56 years old and I have over 12 years of logistical experience in a hospital setting and I applied for three roles to be exactly that and they said that they were going to go in another direction. I doubt there’s that many people who have that sort of experience doing what it is that I do.

If I find something on my of the sites I go to the actual company website, if listed, to see the careers that are open

Same here. I'm at 165 since May. I am finally settling with a pt or 2 jobs.

Sadly I think that may be what it's coming down to, because I also am experiencing that.

Thats so true I put lot job it's like no one will call u if they do will never let u know u got the job are not just leave it like it is

Lots of it is because of AI screening; it will deny you just because the format of your resume is not to its liking. I experimented with this with a company called Cencora. I originally used an Indeed- made resume and got instantly denied. I asked ChatGPT what the problem was , and it pointed out that the format of my resume would constantly be denied at the AI stage, especially with Cencora. So, I had it remake my resume with the exact same information but in the correct format, and boom, I got a call. Our system is dumb; they are nit picking to an extreme level now, which is more important than actually getting help, apparently. Kind of like how United Health Care was using AI to auto-deny claims of people who were literally within their rights for coverage. 🤦 AI is going to continue to make life more terrible, so better get prepared.

Same here!!

Honestly same here. And not just in my field. I’ve applied for jobs in cybersecurity, fast food, construction, customer service, IT, manufacturing, anything. Not only do I never get a call back for an interview, I don’t even get acknowledged that I even applied 90% of the time.

Same here. I thought it was just me.

Perhaps there is an AI assistant diligent about reposting jobs periodically. That way the companies have a good pool of applicants (always fresh) to choose from.

It took a long time but I did get 4 calls for interview but compared to how many applications I've submitted it is really a pitiful amount. I think some companies have to have so many applicants without looking to actually hire anyone.

I came across one ad on zip Recruiter that was posted over a year ago. And I know of one company that has advertised for the same two positions for the past 15-20 years with no interest in filling those positions. Like they are just collecting applications.

Heard some of them are ‘fake’ job listings like the same job is posted twice but the other one pays lower. They let applicants submit for the higher paying one then purposefully take that listing down hoping we’d settle for the lower paying one

Because every position listed, even if its onsite is most likely ghost position. Plus the issue with millions out of work and more companies using ai, outsourcing, etc or just layoffs(with no replacements) doesn't help. No amount of skill set anyone has won't matter if there isn't a company hiring in general.

Same happens to me

Certified phylobotomist very good at my job,but no experience help me please

Im in the same position, doesn't makes any sense that now with all qualifications we are discarted with not even a single interview with a human being

If you haven't yet, put your resume into ChatGPT. That might help. It has helped me.