Australians are increasingly being ghosted during their job hunt, with companies dealing with an influx of candidates who don’t meet the job description.

According to new LinkedIn job searching data, 51 per cent of Australian respondents have been ghosted during the job search process, meaning they have never heard back from a recruiter or company about a job they have applied for.

The data shows that Australians are applying for more jobs than in previous years, but are hearing back about these applications less, leading to friction and frustration throughout the process.

According to the survey of more than 22,000 job applicants and more than 8,000 HR professionals from Australia and around the world, about 40 per cent of respondents said they are applying for more jobs than ever, but nearly 60 per cent said they are hearing back about these applications less.

A key reason for being ghosted may be that job seekers are increasingly applying for roles that they are not properly qualified for.

A survey from late last year found that just over a quarter of respondents could not find a job that matched their skill set.

According to the latest LinkedIn data, more than 15 per cent of HR professionals are spending up to five hours per day just reviewing applications, and 95 per cent said that the majority of these do not meet the listed criteria.

Quality applications over quantity

To avoid being ghosted, it’s important for applicants to focus on quality over quantity when applying for jobs, LinkedIn career expert Cayla Dengate said.

“In today’s competitive job market, it’s tempting for job seekers to apply to as many roles as possible, hoping to increase their chances,” Dengate said.

“However, casting a wide net often leads to disappointment and a lack of response from recruiters, rather than leading to a dream role.

“With more people looking for jobs this year, professionals should shift their approach and be more strategic in applying for roles that match their skill set so they stand out.”

Separate research has also found that nearly half of all Australians have lied on a job application, primarily through exaggerations and fake references.

The increase in ghosting may also be in part due to a sharp increase in the number of applications for each job, and a decline in vacancies across the economy.

A study late last year found the number of Australian tech job applications received by employers have doubled in the last two years, while the number of roles being advertised have fallen to below pre-pandemic levels.

According to the LinkedIn data, just under 60 per cent of respondents said they are planning to look for a new job this year, but nearly 70 per cent said they have already been frustrated by this process.

AI use now common in job apps

One way that job seekers and hiring managers are dealing with an influx in applications is through the use of generative AI technology.

According to new Canva data, about 90 per cent of hiring managers are using AI to streamline their processes, while 96 per cent of candidates have used the technology in the application process.

This is a sharp increase from a separate survey in October last year, which found that just under a quarter of job seekers were using AI in this process.

The data, based on a survey of 10,000 hiring managers and job seekers from around the world, found that the majority of hiring managers are using AI to summarise the resumes of applicants.

Of job applicants who are using AI, 65 per cent are using it to create their resume, nearly half to write a cover letter, nearly 40 per cent to research a prospective company, and about a third to brainstorm and prepare for questions before an interview, according to the data.

More than three-quarters of the hiring managers surveyed said that candidates should disclose the use of generative AI in applications.