You’re not imagining it. Getting a job right now really is harder than it used to be. That’s because Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait has crunched the numbers on the job market, and they’re brutal: for every 10 open roles on his hiring platform alone, there are 2,539 applicants fighting over them.
His advice for standing a chance? Stop applying to the companies everyone’s heard of.
“Don’t just apply to, you know, OpenAI, because they’re in the news every day,” Chait exclusively told Fortune. “Think of the job you want and apply to less-known companies who do that type of work—you’ll find a lot more success.”
The numbers back him up. There are currently 175,000 live jobs on Greenhouse’s platform—and on average, for every job ad posted, around 254 job seekers are applying, pushing applications per recruiter up by 412%—and that’s before accounting for the handful of household names soaking up a disproportionate share of that flood.
Essentially, it’s not you—it’s who you’re applying to that’s the problem.
“It’s actually less about the roles, and it’s more about the companies,” Chait explained. “So across thousands of organizations, what we see is there are certain companies that have really high-profile brands, and they get massive numbers of job applications.”
“If you’re a company that’s been in the headlines or that’s very popular with consumers, you get tens of thousands of job applications for an open role. They’re swimming in it,” he added. “If you go to a very similar company with a very similar type of work that isn’t as well known or that doesn’t have a flashy consumer brand, they might have very few applicants.”
“And so my encouragement is: go beyond the headlines.”
Other ways to stand out in this ‘hiring nightmare’, according to hiring managers and CEOs
It’s no secret that getting a new job is hard—and it’s not just because there are more candidates on the market. There’s also the AI doom loop to contend with (employees spamming bosses with AI-written resumes to try to cut through the noise, because employers are leaning on AI). And then there’s the endless new hoops that recruiters are making candidates jump through to prove they’re the perfect match, from 6-hour interviews and 90-minute assessments to coffee cup tests and weird curveball questions.
But for young people in particular, the challenge is even steeper. About a fifth of Gen Zers worldwide are classified as “NEETs” and are currently locked out of the job market. Last year in the U.K. alone, more than 1.2 million applications were submitted for fewer than 17,000 graduate roles. Even Goldman economists have admitted Gen Z’s hiring nightmare is real—and it isn’t going away anytime soon.
But for desperate young workers who want to take action in their own hands, there are some ways to stand out. For one, the extra bit of effort it takes to handwrite a note could be an easy win, especially as one Gen Z hiring manager pointed out that they’re few and far between these days.
Meanwhile, Netskope CEO Sanjay Beri recently told Fortune that the only reliable way to land a job these days is to skip the applications entirely and build a relationship with someone on the inside—because, as he put it, some of the best jobs are “never published” at all.
His advice for job seekers who are young, hungry, and child-free is to get out and network at least two to three times a week: “Who you know, how you get to know them, and building your network will pay off over time.”
And then there’s the obvious. If you can’t beat it, you might as well join it: AI may be shrinking jobs, but CEOs are consistently saying that AI fluency is the one standout skill they’re looking for from talent right now.
“This is the time of opportunity,” Glean CEO Arvind Jain told Fortune. “You have this phenomenal tool, and it allows you to do so many cool things.” In his view, a candidate who has genuinely embraced AI can work at ten times the speed of one who hasn’t—and that gap is only going to widen. “If you’ve mastered these tools, you can create amazing software, systems, applications, imagery, videos. Show your creativity with it.”
The current job market is undeniably tougher than it used to be, a fact underscored by Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait, who revealed alarming statistics: for every 10 job openings on his hiring platform, there are an astonishing 2,539 applicants competing for those positions. This high competition stems from a combination of factors, including a surge in job seekers and the prominence of well-known companies that attract massive numbers of applications.
Chait’s primary piece of advice for job seekers is to look beyond the most recognized companies. He suggests that applicants focus on lesser-known organizations that align with their career aspirations. This strategy is supported by data indicating that many of the high-profile companies receive an overwhelming volume of applications, making it substantially more challenging for candidates to stand out. For instance, while there are currently around 175,000 active job listings on the Greenhouse platform, the average job ad sees roughly 254 applicants, translating to a 412% increase in applications per recruiter. This statistic highlights the stark contrast between high-profile brands and lesser-known firms, which may offer similar roles but attract far fewer applicants.
Chait emphasizes that the challenge lies less with the roles themselves and more with the companies to which candidates are applying. High-profile organizations with consumer recognition attract tens of thousands of applications for each position, while companies with a similar job profile but less visibility experience a much lower influx of candidates. Therefore, Chait encourages job seekers to “go beyond the headlines” and consider opportunities with organizations that may not have the same level of public recognition.
The challenges of entering the job market extend beyond mere competition; they also involve the evolving landscape of recruitment processes. Many job seekers face an arduous journey involving increasingly complex requirements set by recruiters, such as lengthy interviews, extensive assessments, and unconventional questions. The rise of AI is also complicating the situation, as some candidates resort to using AI tools to generate resumes in a bid to cut through the noise, which in turn prompts employers to rely more heavily on AI for screening.
For younger job seekers, particularly those from Gen Z, the situation is even more dire. Reports indicate that approximately 20% of Gen Z individuals worldwide fall into the « NEET » (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) category, effectively locking them out of the job market. In the UK alone, more than 1.2 million applications were submitted for fewer than 17,000 graduate roles last year, revealing the stark reality of job scarcity for new graduates. This reality is acknowledged even by Goldman economists, who have recognized the ongoing challenges facing young job seekers.
However, there are strategies that can help candidates distinguish themselves in this competitive environment. For instance, a relatively simple yet effective tactic is to send handwritten notes to potential employers, a gesture noted by a Gen Z hiring manager as increasingly rare. This small effort could make a significant impact in a sea of digital applications.
Networking is another vital approach to improving job prospects. Netskope CEO Sanjay Beri advises job seekers to foster relationships within their desired industries, noting that many of the best job opportunities are never posted publicly. He recommends networking at least two to three times a week, as building connections can lead to valuable opportunities and insights into the job market.
Additionally, embracing AI proficiency may be advantageous for job seekers. Despite the fear that AI could diminish job opportunities, many CEOs highlight the increasing demand for candidates who are fluent in AI technologies. Glean CEO Arvind Jain asserts that this is a pivotal moment for job seekers to leverage AI as a powerful tool that can enhance productivity and creativity. He posits that candidates who master AI capabilities can significantly outperform their peers, emphasizing the importance of showcasing creativity and innovation through the use of these technologies.
In summary, while the current job market presents significant challenges, particularly for younger generations, there are actionable strategies that candidates can adopt to improve their chances of success. By focusing on lesser-known companies, networking diligently, and developing AI proficiency, job seekers can differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded field. Ultimately, the key to navigating this hiring landscape lies in adaptability and resourcefulness, allowing candidates to seize opportunities that may otherwise be overlooked.
