Why You're Not Hearing Back (And Why It Isn't You)

If you've been making job application after job application and not hearing back, then I've discovered something and I want you to please understand that most of the time the problem is not you, it's a structural problem, not a personal problem.

Now, when my clients start working with me, often they admit during our very first coaching call that they're convinced there must be something wrong with them as they may have sent already 30, 50, 60 or more applications in into the void.

They've disappeared into what seems like a black hole.

Yes, they admit they've been struggling to land an interview, but not only that, they've been struggling to receive even an acknowledgement of their application.

Have you felt that too? That's why they think there's something wrong with them and believe they are the problem rather than the system being the problem.

Now, if this is what you've been thinking, please let me assure you, you are not.

OK, you are not the problem.

I read an article in Business Chief magazine recently.

It came out last week.

and they reported that Hisayuki Idekoba, who is the CEO of Indeed, the job search platform, he said that the labour market is failing both employers and job seekers, and that the hiring process has become a vicious cycle of job applications going absolutely nowhere.

Now, what the job market data says about your job search strategy is this.

Mr. Hisayuki said, you've got 1,000 applications and you think all 1,000 people are not qualified? Something's wrong, Mr.

Hisayuki said, when discussing the disparity between the number of applications and qualified candidates.

Across all industries, job openings have decreased, while the number of candidates per role decreased.

has surged and what does that do it leaves many qualified workers submitting applications without receiving a response now here are a few more statistics for you that you'll probably find interesting according to global data Job postings worldwide declined 14.6% in Q4 of 2025.

And this research states that economic uncertainty and AI adoption were contributing factors.

Contributing factors.

Employers are currently facing challenges like AI-generated applications, while scams involving fake candidates have made it harder for firms to identify legitimate and suitable candidates for advertised positions.

And with so many interviews conducted remotely and via AI screening, as well as AI interviews, it's easier for scammers to pose as legitimate candidates.

The problem goes both ways, doesn't it? The data supports this.

According to Greenhouse's higher standard benchmark report that was drawn from over 6,000 companies and 640 million applications, the average job posting attracted 244 applications in 2025.

And you know what? That's up from around 116 in 2022, a 111% increase.

more applications, more candidates, and screeners are inundated.

Now, over the same period, recruiting teams shrank by around 55%, according to this report, leaving a median team of about five recruiters only.

So the load carried by a single recruiter rose from 146 applications a year, up to 746.