Today’s soul-crushing and demoralizing job market

The shift from qualitative to quantitative hiring through AI software and the significance of human connections

When I landed my first serious job as a graphic designer in 2010, I only possessed half of the primary qualifications outlined in the job listing.

They were seeking someone with 3–5 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree. I only had two years of experience and was still working on my degree.

Regardless of my missing requirements, I applied anyway because I was confident I had the skills and felt I was a good fit for the role.

I not only got the interview, I landed the job.

I worked at that company for nearly 13 years, eventually becoming Creative Director and helping them evolve into a highly successful business.

This scenario is not just my story — this was a common experience shared by many not long ago.

Fast forward a decade, and the job market has drastically transformed. Nowadays, searching for a career tends to deflate confidence instead of boosting it.

Over the years, I’ve heard of folks having a tough time getting hired. I chalked it up to the typical reasons, such as missing skills or a lackluster resume and portfolio. Or in some cases, over-qualification and even ageism if you were on the more seasoned side of the fence.

However, my tune dramatically changed when I was job searching just a few months ago.

My new story is also like many others. I sent out dozens of resumes and carefully crafted cover letters. And, to my genuine surprise, crickets.

For context, I’m a seasoned creative professional with 15 years of real-world experience under my belt. I have led numerous design teams and launched dozens of successful design campaigns and initiatives.

Beyond my proven design qualifications, I am also a capable front-end developer, UX practitioner, and digital marketer. I like to think I have my bases covered when the inevitable “bonus skill” pops up on a job posting.

Until recently, I estimate I had a 90% interview rate. When I confidently applied for a job, I would almost certainly get a follow-up interview. Those days are long gone in this new job market. Most people can expect a 10% interview rate nowadays if you are lucky.

Paradigm Shift

I’m not sure exactly when the job market fundamentally changed. Some say it was because of the COVID pandemic, while others blame Artificial intelligence (AI). It’s likely a combination of both.

The COVID pandemic spawned a remote work culture renaissance, resulting in companies receiving hundreds of job applicants instead of the two or three dozen they typically reviewed for the same in-person job. This application surge has made it impractical for humans to review resumes manually.

Hiring software and platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter have made listing positions and submitting resumes easier by employing automated systems with the help of AI.

The obvious downside to this convenience is that some resumes can quickly go unnoticed. AI-powered software filters out potentially good candidates who may lack specific keywords and criteria.

Some will argue this new system is better as it provides a greater talent pool for businesses and more job options for those seeking a career. While this may be objectively true, I argue that this new “efficient” process has removed the human element from the equation, leaving candidates who look good on paper while throwing away those who may be more compatible and have greater potential as employees.

Culture Fit

What makes someone a good fit for a job is not just a set of skills and qualifications squeezed on a single page document. A person’s character and potential are also valuable indicators of whether a candidate is a good fit for a company. After all, you can always teach someone skills, but traits such as grit, determination, leadership, and loyalty are far more challenging to recognize through the use of job software.

Of course, many will claim that post-AI filtered candidate interviews reveal the best of the best. Undoubtedly, there is some truth to that notion. But who doesn’t appreciate a good underdog story?

Perhaps I indulge in too many movies, but imagine the joy of being employed by a company that values not only objective skills and qualifications but also human potential and character.

One problem, in my opinion, is that many “attractive” companies envision themselves on the same level as Ivy League colleges. They only accept the best and brightest people who check off certain objective qualities and pedigrees.

That’s great for perception and prestige, but companies are not overpriced institutions where people get brainwashed for a few years just to get noticed by more pretentious corporations and institutions. Or maybe they are the same?

Finding a career is a big deal for most individuals. As we dedicate a substantial portion of our lives to work, it becomes imperative that our values and aspirations harmonize with those of the organization and its employees. This mutual relationship begins with recognizing candidates for not just their abilities, but also for who they truly are.

When I was hired for that job in 2010, I did not possess many of the required qualifications, as mentioned. However, I genuinely connected with the hiring manager, one of the company’s owners. He saw my potential and believed I would align well with their work culture — and he was right.

This kind of instinct is non-existent in modern AI job software. Quite frankly, this lack of humanness in the hiring process scares the shit out of me, as it should everyone.

It’s bad enough that AI will wreak havoc on our actual jobs. Add in a layer of AI quantifying our value as job candidates, and it makes me not want to get out of bed in the morning.

Relying solely on one-dimensional qualifications and keywords outlined in a document ingested into some corporate-designed hiring machine eventually leads to an apathetic work culture.

This robotic recruiting behavior places a higher value on the quantitative aspects of a human rather than the qualitative traits crucial for building a productive and engaging work environment.

An Unpredictable Future

Usually, when I write an article, I have some kind of advice or solution to offer the reader. But this new job market is constantly changing, and what works today may not work tomorrow.

For example, actions such as reaching out to hiring managers used to get you noticed, but what happens when those get replaced by AI chatbots?

It also used to be true that crafting a good cover letter was a great way of separating yourself from the herd. But now, everyone can use ChatGPT to write compelling cover letters.

And then you have designers. We’ve always had a unique approach to finding jobs because we can show our portfolios. I use the word approach instead of advantage because many job recruiters put too much emphasis on superficial portfolios and not enough on background and problem-solving abilities — which can be challenging for design candidates whose portfolio is limited by the nature of the companies they’ve worked for.

Here’s some unsolicited advice to all you design hiring managers out there. Not every designer has had the privilege of working on beautiful campaigns and products for Fortune 500 companies. A designer’s value should be based on their mastery of design principles, problem-solving abilities, and character.

As someone who has hired many designers over the years, I’m more impressed with a candidate who can explain to me how they turned a chaotic and bloated local business email or website into something more visually organized and usable than a designer who makes beautifully over-designed apps and logos that look like they belong on dribble.

But even this advice may become moot. I may sound paranoid, but how long before design portfolios get filtered by AI job software? Who knows, maybe it’s already happening.

Putting aside the fact that AI is fundamentally altering the job landscape, what I do know is the best way to get a job is the same as it’s always been. And that is to know somebody.

This method is what I used to land my current job as Director of Brand Strategy at Bloom Media. I worked as a design intern with the owners many years ago when I had just finished my associate’s degree.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the advantage of knowing someone. However, this reality highlights the crucial importance of building human connections.

Shrinking Skills

Many other unfortunate factors can contribute to difficulty landing a job, such as discrimination based on gender, age, race, and even politics. However, I have faith that these biases are becoming less common as society progresses.

And while we’re on the topic, I wish there was an option to select “none of your business” when job applications ask for your gender or sexual orientation.

One of the primary reasons for not securing an interview or landing a job is often the absence of sufficient skills and experience. However, even if you possess the necessary skills, there appears to be a phenomenon where the shelf life of skills is diminishing. This presents challenges for even the most seasoned individuals in terms of maintaining their qualifications.

For instance, consider the realm of graphic design. Ten years ago, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite was enough to secure a good position. Nowadays, however, employers expect designers to be familiar with various tools, including Sketch, Figma, and even coding languages like HTML and CSS.

In addition, they must keep up-to-date with the latest design trends and user experience principles. And I hate to beat a dead horse but throw AI into the mix, and your skills from two years ago are already becoming irrelevant.

The current state of the job market is disheartening. I empathize with those facing challenges finding the right job, or any job for that matter. Every day, the landscape seems to change, accompanied by new advice on how to navigate it.

Yet, in all the chaos and apprehension, two things remain certain. Firstly, nothing can compare to establishing genuine human connections. This type of relationship can take you further in your job search than any other method. Secondly, the impact of AI on our lives is still uncertain. Therefore, staying informed and embracing the changes that come our way is crucial.

Although the job market can be challenging, there is some comfort in knowing that you are not alone in this wild and unpredictable journey.