Let’s be honest: when was the last time you looked for a job in the newspaper? If you’re like most people, it was probably before smartphones took over our lives—maybe even before the second Bush administration. But believe it or not, there’s a quiet comeback happening in the world of job ads. And it might actually be worth your time to pay attention.
We’ve all been there: you click “apply” on an online job posting, upload your résumé, answer a few robotic questions, and… nothing. It feels like your application vanished into a digital black hole. You’re not imagining it. That’s exactly what’s happening.
Employers are drowning in applications—many of them low-quality, generic, or even fake. Thanks to AI tools that let job seekers blast out hundreds of résumés with minimal effort, hiring managers are overwhelmed. And they’re fighting back.
Some companies are going retro. You might spot a job listing in the Sunday paper—yes, *the actual print edition*—for a six-figure role in tech, finance, or biotech. Even more surprising? Some include a real person’s name and email address. Not a portal. Not a bot. A human being.
That’s gold.
“It makes a huge difference when you can reach the hiring manager directly,” says Anita Jenke, who runs the Career Transitions Center in Chicago. “You’re not just another file in a system. You’re someone who took the time to find them.”
David Head, who actually co-founded an AI-powered recruiting company, agrees. He still recommends applying online *and* sending a personal note to the hiring manager if you can. “At the end of the day,” he says, “you just want your application to be seen. Really seen.”
A little extra effort—like tracking down a contact or writing a thoughtful email—shows initiative. And in a sea of AI-generated cover letters, that kind of authenticity stands out.
### The New Gatekeeping
Some companies aren’t just avoiding AI spam—they’re actively making it harder to apply. And they’re doing it on purpose.
Take Digitalis Education, a small company in Bremerton, Washington, that builds portable planetariums. Their online job portal? It’s a trap. The real application link is hidden in the job description itself. Only about 10% of people actually follow the instructions and make it through.
“We were getting a tsunami of fake or auto-filled applications,” says CEO Rob Spearman. “People sounded great on paper, then bombed the interview. It was clear they hadn’t even read the job description.”
So he added friction. Deliberately.
It’s not just about catching cheaters. It’s about finding people who care. And he’s not alone.
At a time when hiring has slowed and the job market feels tighter, companies are getting pickier. They’re leaning on thorough reference checks, asking former coworkers to rate candidates on soft skills like empathy and curiosity, and using niche job boards instead of blasting roles across LinkedIn and Indeed.
Why? Because on the big platforms, one job can get 700 applications—many from people who barely fit the role. But post the same job on a smaller, targeted site like Wellfound, and you might get 100 strong applicants instead. Fewer bots. Fewer spray-and-pray candidates. More real humans.
Sam Wright from Huntr, a job-search tool, says the average user now waits nearly 70 days to land an offer—22% longer than just a few months ago. Why? Because employers aren’t just sorting through *a lot* of applicants. They’re sorting through *a lot of good ones*. And that takes time.
The Bottom Line for Job Seekers
Yes, the job hunt is getting tougher. But here’s the silver lining: if you’re truly qualified and you’re willing to go the extra mile, you might actually have a better shot now.
Companies are tired of noise. They’re hungry for authenticity. And they’re building hiring processes that reward effort, attention to detail, and real human connection.
So maybe it’s time to rethink your strategy. Skip the AI shortcuts. Dig a little deeper. Look beyond the big job boards. Try the classifieds. Find the human behind the job posting. Send a real email.
Because in a world where everything’s automated, being human might be your biggest advantage.