Why you can’t find a job
Ever feel like the job market is playing a cruel joke on us? There are millions of open positions, yet landing one feels as elusive as finding a good parking spot at the mall ton Black Friday. It’s like companies are waving “Now Hiring!” signs, but no one’s actually answering the phone.
So, here’s the deal: we’ve got 8.5 million job openings out there, but people aren’t getting hired. Instead, you’ve got tons of qualified, eager applicants just hanging out, endlessly refreshing their emails.
Why?
Because behind the flashy job postings, the market’s a maze of ghost jobs, degrees that don’t seem to matter, and a healthy dose of unrealistic company expectations. And it’s not just frustrating — it’s exhausting.
My friend is fresh out of college with a double degree, fluent in three languages, and with an internship under her belt. Sounds like a recruiter’s dream, right?
Nope. She’s applied to a hundred jobs and heard back from exactly…two. Turns out, being overqualified doesn’t even get you a foot in the door these days.
And don’t even get me started on my other friend, who figured learning AI and technical skills would make him stand out. He’s added every tool under the sun to his resume and is now a half-expert in three programming languages, but the job offers?
Still missing. So, while upskilling is important, it’s apparently not the silver bullet it’s cracked up to be.
One of the biggest issues? Job Availability vs. Reality. Those open positions we hear about don’t necessarily translate to hiring.
Companies love to “signal growth” by posting jobs they’re not actually filling, creating this illusion that there are jobs for everyone. But in reality, hires are down, and hopeful applicants are left hanging.
Then there’s the Degree Myth. Remember when they told us more degrees meant more opportunities? Ha! Turns out, having a couple of diplomas doesn’t guarantee anything anymore.
Job seekers with advanced degrees are left scratching their heads as they compete with less-qualified candidates. Degrees are becoming more of a “nice to have” than the ticket to success we were promised.
And of course, there’s the Ghost Job Phenomenon, where job postings appear more like a cruel prank than genuine opportunities.
Some companies put up listings to gauge applicant interest, keep their options open, or even just collect resumes. Meanwhile, applicants are stuck waiting for responses that will never come. It’s like a game where the rules keep changing, and we’re all just trying to play catch-up.
What’s Next?
If traditional job hunting is becoming a minefield, maybe it’s time to rethink the whole process. For many, alternative career paths like freelancing, consulting, or project-based work might offer more security (and fewer ghost jobs). It’s not just about where you apply, but also how you approach your career. Companies want flexibility, and maybe so should we.
Networking, technical skills, and being open to non-traditional roles are the new survival tools.
So, the job market is a bit of a mess right here now. But by embracing flexibility, learning a few new tricks, and staying connected, we might just outsmart the system.