Ghosting, AI, Adapting and Resilience
Let’s be honest. Looking for a job in 2025 feels… different. Not just harder, or more competitive – though it can be that too – but fundamentally more weird.
AI’s in the mix now. Remote roles are (saying they’re) everywhere and yet nowhere at the same time. Job ads disappear mid-application. And after firing off twenty tailored applications, you might still hear nothing but silence.
If you’re feeling frustrated, you’re not alone. I’ve spoken with a lot of others who are too – including people with 10, 20 years of experience behind them. It’s not just the grads or the career changers. This market is humbling everyone.
So I wanted to put together something real. A breakdown of what we’re up against right now – and what’s actually helping people get through it.
What’s Making Job Hunting So Rough Right Now
- The AI screening wall
Before your CV ever reaches a person, it’s likely being scanned by an algorithm. At the end of 2024 this wasn’t a thing. It was all human eyes.
But companies are updating their recruitment platforms, injecting new AI tooling which does profess to accurately screen and filter ‘better and more intelligently than ever before’.
These systems sort, score, and sometimes reject applications before a recruiter even sees them. You might be the perfect fit – but if your CV doesn’t speak “machine”, it might never land.
Want to know what these systems actually look for? Here’s a solid explainer from JobScan on how applicant tracking systems (ATS) work. - Skills inflation
It’s not just that roles are asking for more. It’s that they’re asking for different things. Prompt engineering. GenAI tools. Hybrid management. Suddenly, skills you didn’t even need last year are now marked as “essential”.
The World Economic Forum predicts over 40% of core skills will shift by 2027. That’s… soon. - The Ghosting problem
You can spend days crafting the perfect application. Still – nothing. No email. No call. No closure. Companies are overwhelmed with applicants, and many just don’t have the bandwidth to reply anymore.
It’s not personal. But yet, it feels personal.
AI tooling in this area will look to reduce the ghosting, but will also increase the auto-rejections. So your trade off with silence could be a rise in frustration from trying to get past the machines.
What’s Actually Helping (Even If You’ve Been Around the Block)
- Write for the robots first, humans second
Harsh? Maybe. But real. Tools like Rezi and JobScan help optimise your CV for ATS filters. Even if you’re a senior leader, this isn’t beneath you – it’s smart positioning.
Pro tip: Use keywords straight from the job description. Not synonyms. Not fluff. Copy-paste the phrasing they used. - Build your AI muscle
You don’t need to become an AI engineer. But knowing how to use tools like ChatGPT, Notion AI, or even Midjourney can give you an edge. Employers want to see you’re adaptable, not perfect.
LinkedIn Learning has a free AI essentials course that’s actually worth the time.
You’re going to find AI based questions creeping into interviews now for roles which aren’t even AI based. Companies are using the tooling on a daily basis for basic stuff too. So they’re going to want to see you’re conversant at some level. E.g. have you used Co-pilot to come up with a day plan? Or quick hack create a health and safety questionnaire for an event? - Treat networking like problem-solving, not schmoozing
If “networking” makes you cringe, think of it as information-gathering. Reach out to people to learn, not just to get something. Ask for ten minutes to pick someone’s brain about what’s changing in their company or industry.
A good question: “If you were in my shoes, knowing what you know now, how would you approach this market?” - Be findable, not just polished
Update your LinkedIn headline. Make your bio clear, not clever. Add “Open to Work” – yes, even if you’re unsure. Use keywords you want to be found for.
Also, try this: Google yourself. What did you find? Was it a drunken picture in Ibiza? Or an award for being a top performer in your field? Maybe it was a ton of thought leadership advice within your vertical market? If you were a hiring manager, would you want to talk to that person? - Mental health isn’t a ‘nice to have’
This one doesn’t get said enough. Job searching messes with your sense of worth. And if you’re already tired, burnt out, or unsure, it can feel like rejection is confirming your worst fears.
So be intentional about support. Talk to a friend, coach or therapist. Use something like Mind or BetterHelp. Take breaks without guilt. It doesn’t mean you’re slacking. It means you’re human.
If You’re Feeling Stuck, Try This
• Pick one role you’d genuinely want. Reverse-engineer your CV and cover letter just for that.
• Ask ChatGPT, Grok or whatever your preferred platform is to simulate an interview for it. Then do it again with follow-ups.
• Email or message someone who works in that company. Not to pitch yourself, but to ask what the hiring process actually looks like.
• Take a breather. Go outside. Move your body. Reset.
None of this guarantees success. But it stacks the odds back in your favour.
Final Thought: You’re Not Broken, The System Is Just… Shifting
If you’re job hunting right now, you’re not behind. You’re adapting in real time to a system that’s still learning how to work with humans. That’s not easy.
But you’re not alone in it. And with the right mix of smart tools, honest reflection, and a bit of support – you’ll find your way through.
If this helped, pass it on. Someone else out there probably needs to hear it too.
