Why a recruiting veteran says applying online in 2026 no longer works for most job seekers

How AI and automated submissions are changing online job applications for US job seekers. (Photo: Freepik)

The job market in 2026 has become increasingly challenging, with online applications no longer guaranteeing interviews or responses, according to recruiting veteran J.T. O’Donnell. “Applying online, if I’m being really honest, has to be one of the most degrading and depressing things people do,” O’Donnell said, quoted by CNBC. “I’ve never seen it this bad,” she added, describing the overwhelming competition and automated filters that often prevent qualified candidates from being noticed.O’Donnell, who has more than 30 years of experience in the hiring industry, said the reliance on online applications has left many job seekers frustrated and demoralised. As companies adopt AI-generated application systems and automated submission tools, the traditional approach of submitting résumés through job boards is becoming increasingly ineffective, CNBC reports.The decline of online applications in 2026According to O’Donnell, employers are posting fewer positions publicly, and many advertised roles are already filled internally or remain ghost jobs. “Positions receive hundreds of applicants within hours because of AI auto-apply tools,” she said, as reported by CNBC. This flood of automated applications often means qualified candidates never reach human recruiters, she added.Research supports this trend. Glassdoor data indicates that the proportion of candidates sourced directly by recruiters has increased 72% since 2023, reaching nearly 15% last year. O’Donnell cited this shift as evidence that personal visibility and networking now carry far more weight than submitting multiple online applications, CNBC reports.Building visibility and strategic connectionsO’Donnell also recommends that job seekers aim to get the job through a recruiting process instead of using online job applications as a main way to get a job. To achieve this, one needs to create a presence on online recruiting sites such as LinkedIn, and engage strategically with the companies’ content as well as their workers’ content. “All of these recruiters that are on those platforms, the way you’re going to show up in the recruiting results is by engaging with their company’s content,” CNBC quoted O’Donnell as saying.She described her approach on how one can use something she termed as documentation streak. In one of the instances, project managers who followed the documentation streak approach ended up receiving a call on the 17th day on an unspecified position from one of their desired companies, although they had not been advertised. The project manager had been actively responding and engaging with posts from the desired companies. He shared some insights and skills in his area of operations. O’Donnell described the outcome as a clear demonstration of how networking and content engagement can bypass traditional online applications, CNBC reports.Five Content Formats that Grab Recruiters’ AttentionO’Donnell outlined a few types of content that do well on LinkedIn and can help candidates get noticed:

“By creating a space where recruiters can find you and contact you, you start getting interviews in this market,” O’Donnell said, as reported by CNBC. She stressed the fact that “Consistency, engagement, and the demonstration of expert skills have now become indispensable requirements for 2026’s employment scenario.”The new approach to job searchingThe advice from the veteran highlights the fact that there has been a major change in the way that people are selected in jobs, as while “filling out an internet application” remains an option, it “is NOT the way to get an interview these days.” O’Donnell’s strategy highlights the increased emphasis of recruiter-based recruitment, as well as the importance of “visibility,” which has become a part of the contemporary job search process. Individuals aspiring towards a brighter 2026 are encouraged to focus on establishing real relationships, participating in discussions via the internet, and leveraging content sharing in the pursuit of demonstrating expertise. “This is the new networking,” she said, talking about the shift in finding the right job in a world filled with AI algorithms that often process applications on their own.