Marketplace Tech Automated application systems add insult to injury in a tough job market
Aug 27, 2025
Job seekers are facing a tough landscape as job growth slows and long-term unemployment rises. Automated application systems are making the hiring process even more frustrating, often leading to silence from potential employers. Personal accounts reveal the dehumanizing nature of applying online, with many candidates feeling lost in a digital maze. Insights from a recent intern highlight the challenges of AI in recruitment and the comfort found in pets while navigating this daunting journey.
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Dog-Sitter Tracks Dehumanizing Hiring
- Jackie juggles nine dogs while job-hunting and tracks applications in a spreadsheet.
- She submitted 529 applications and got human contact from only 39 of them.
Algorithms Multiply Selection Layers
- Hiring platforms layer multiple automated filters beyond keywords, like graded assignments and bot interviews.
- Those filters widen the funnel but push the burden of sorting to opaque algorithmic systems.
More Applications, Lower Interview Odds
- Technology makes it easier to apply to many jobs but increases candidate variability for employers.
- That larger, more varied pool forces stronger selection processes and often reduces individual odds of interview.