Why Is Job Hunting Like This? This Broken Hiring System Has to Change

Let me get real for a second. After spending over a month actively applying for jobs on platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri, and Indeed, here’s the reality I’ve come to terms with: these platforms aren’t built to help us find jobs. They’re built to make us feel like we’re doing something, but the results are pointless. Every step of this process is broken, frustrating, and, frankly, exhausting. Let’s break it down:

1. Endless Applications with No Results
   We’re told, “You have to apply to lots of places; it’s a numbers game.” So, what do we do? We spend hours filling out forms, tweaking resumes, writing cover letters, and sending applications by the dozens. And what do we get back? Silence. Or worse—generic rejection emails that give us no feedback. It’s like screaming into a void, hoping someone out there might listen. Does anyone else feel this?

2. The Obsession with Experience Over Actual Skill
   Here’s one that burns me up. You know you’ve got the skills. You’ve put in the work, learned the tools, maybe even built impressive projects on your own. But when it comes down to it, all they see is a number: “We’re looking for someone with at least 4 years of experience.” Never mind that you can do the job just as well, if not better, than someone with 10 years in the field. That number is all that matters. And if you try to say you’re up for the task? Rejected. It’s like they’re looking for a resume, not a person.

3. The Complete Lack of Communication
   This one hits hard. How many times have you applied for a job, only to sit there refreshing your email, wondering if today is the day you’ll hear back? Days go by, weeks go by, and… nothing. No update, no feedback, no clue if you’re even in the running. We’re left waiting, wondering if we’re even worth a second glance. The worst part? This seems to be “normal.” Since when did it become okay to just ghost candidates who are investing time and energy into these applications?

4. Non-Technical People Screening Technical Skills
   Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. How many times have you been passed over because someone in HR—someone who doesn’t know the difference between HTML and SQL—decided you weren’t a fit? They don’t understand what you do, but they have the power to toss your application aside. The result? People who can actually do the job get ignored, while keywords and jargon decide who gets through. This shouldn’t be the reality, but somehow, it is.

5. The Market Excuse – The New “We’ll Keep Your Resume on File”
   This one stings. We get told, “The market is down” or “We’re in a hiring freeze.” And while market conditions might be rough, this excuse is starting to sound like a cop-out. How many of us are left hanging with the promise that “things will pick up soon”? Meanwhile, we’re the ones out here struggling, applying to job after job with no response. It’s as if “market conditions” have become the perfect excuse to keep us waiting indefinitely.

6. Job Platforms That Are Just as Broken
   And here’s the kicker: the job platforms themselves. They’re packed with sponsored listings that aren’t even relevant, pushing genuine opportunities to the bottom. They’re designed to keep us scrolling, applying, and hoping. But are they really helping us find good jobs? Or are they just making money off companies trying to get seen?

I Know I’m Not Alone Here
We’re not just numbers on a resume. We’re skilled people who are tired of playing this game. This system makes us feel like we’re the problem when, in reality, it’s the system that’s broken. Why are we forced to apply for 50, 100, even 200 jobs just to get a single response? Why can’t companies see our potential beyond a few numbers and keywords?

I’d love to hear your experiences—because if you’ve been through this, you know exactly what I’m talking about. How do we make this better? How do we fix a system that feels so rigged against us?