Job seekers say they’re still being ghosted despite taking extra steps to stand out, with 71% adding additional effort and 81% reporting rejection without any contact, according to a new hiring platform study.
Survey scope and key findings
The research, conducted by Greenhouse, surveyed more than 2,800 applicants in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Australia. Respondents spanned a range of ages, industries and experience levels.
Overall, 31% of participants said they are “often or almost always” rejected without speaking to a human or a machine. That share rises to 38% among Generation Z respondents.
Perception of the hiring process
Applicants described the market as a “black box,” prompting them to tailor applications for two audiences: the automated screening tools and the hiring managers who may suspect AI involvement.
Nearly half of those surveyed pursued referrals to improve their odds, while 27% paid for a resume-writing service.
Even candidates who secured interviews reported dissatisfaction; 96% listed at least one complaint, and 45% cited being ghosted after the interview stage.
Artificial intelligence’s growing role
In the past year, 77% of U.S. job seekers used artificial intelligence to aid their search. At the same time, 60% altered how they wrote applications to avoid being flagged as AI-generated, and 39% rewrote entire submissions for that reason.
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“For the first time I can remember, neither side thinks hiring is working,” said Sharawn Tipton, chief people officer at Greenhouse. “Candidates send applications into a black hole, while employers sift through AI-polished resumes that all look the same.”
To bypass screening algorithms, 62% of respondents tried specific tactics: 54% used AI to infer system preferences, 40% added skills they did not possess, and a third inserted hidden text aimed at algorithm reviewers.
Desire for richer evaluation methods
Almost all participants, 96%, want a way to convey more than a static résumé, and 52% specifically wish to demonstrate learning ability and adaptability.
Nearly half of the surveyed candidates tried an AI-driven interview in the last year; 70% felt it allowed them to showcase skills, while only 7% would refuse such an interview outright.
Transparency remains a priority: 88% want a legal requirement for employers to disclose AI use in interviews, and 55% seek advance notice of such technology.
“AI can polish a resume or fire off hundreds of applications, but it can’t show an employer how someone thinks or learns,” said Ophir Samson, head of voice AI at Greenhouse. “A structured conversation early in the process could give the right candidates that chance. But it only works if candidates understand how they’re being evaluated, and know a real person will review their responses.”
HR professionals’ mixed confidence
A separate study by TestGorilla found that 72% of U.S. talent professionals believe AI speeds up candidate discovery. However, one-third reported reduced confidence in the quality of matches, and 8% said AI actually lowered their confidence.
