I came across this screenshot and it honestly explains why job hunting feels broken.
For weeks I thought I was doing something wrong because:
- Applications got rejected within hours
- The same jobs kept reappearing
- “Urgent hiring” roles already had thousands of applicants
- Some listings felt like they’d been open forever
But then I realized the real issue wasn’t effort.
It was noise.
Most job platforms optimize for engagement, not for candidate outcomes. That means:
- Promoted roles stay visible long after they’re saturated
- Easy Apply attracts mass spam
- Older listings never really disappear
- You end up competing in pools that are already dead
Since then, I’ve been trying to focus only on:
- Freshly posted roles
- Less crowded listings
- Companies actively reviewing applications
Curious how others here are handling this.
Are you changing how you apply, or just pushing through the volume?
Top comments (2)
Completely agree.
Glad it resonated!
Curious — have you changed how you apply lately, or are you still using the same approach as before?