Mihir Goyenka applied to thousands of software-engineering roles over an eight-month job search after graduating with a master's in computer science. He initially tried networking and avoided indiscriminate applying but ultimately pursued many roles, describing the process as a numbers game. LinkedIn reported applications were up more than 45% year-over-year as of May. One-click or low-effort applications lower friction but increase volume, making individual candidates harder to differentiate. HR teams increasingly use applicant-tracking software to filter applications, screening out irrelevant or AI-generated submissions. A slowing job market could further raise competition for roles.
His search lasted about eight months. Goyenka estimates that he submitted thousands of applications. 'I got to a point where if I read the company name, I was like, 'Yeah, I've applied to this company,' he told Business Insider. Goyenka tried to follow the advice not to just apply to everything he could find - what recruiters often call 'spray and pray' - and focus on networking. But, he said, that didn't get him very far.
Making it a cinch to apply for a role sounds like a win. Fewer taps and less time. But that convenience brings a trade-off: It can be harder to stand out. HR departments flooded with résumés can feel compelled to lean on applicant-tracking software. Those systems are designed to help filter out the noise - like candidates who don't bother reading job descriptions or submissions cranked out by AI.
"It's way too easy, and that's not a good thing," tech-industry veteran Jenny Dearborn, who is chief people strategy officer at professional services firm BTS, told Business Insider.
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