The REAL Reason Why Getting A Job Is So Difficult Right Now

Getting a job is so difficult — the real reason

Getting a job is so difficult right now because companies broke the hiring system. It’s not your fault—it’s theirs. After years of frequent layoffs, risk-averse hiring, and broken processes, the job market has become a feeding frenzy where thousands compete for every opening. The data shows more unemployed people than available jobs for the first time since the pandemic peak, and that doesn’t even account for part-time work, fractional roles, or reduced pay and benefits.

Why the job market feels broken

Companies created this mess

Employers lay people off too frequently, don’t promote internally, and leave everyone fending for themselves. Every job posting becomes a feeding frenzy with 1,000+ applications for roles that would have been considered mediocre just a few years ago. The cyclical nature of employment keeps getting shorter, and you’re only as good as the next earnings report.

The application process is deliberately cumbersome

Companies make you sign up for accounts you’ll never use again, force manual data entry even when your resume parses correctly, and add unnecessary hurdles like assessments and behavioral questions at the application stage. They’re not optimizing for candidate experience—they’re creating barriers to reduce volume.

The real numbers behind getting a job is so difficult

More unemployed than available jobs

We’ve hit a critical point where there are more people unemployed than there are available jobs—the first time this has happened since the pandemic peak. This doesn’t even factor in part-time jobs, fractional work, or employers who’ve cut benefits and reduced pay rates.

Employers are incredibly picky

With thousands of applicants per role, companies are looking for 100% fits, not transferable skills. They’re not drilling deeper into your experience or considering candidates from different industries when they have dozens of applicants from their biggest competitors already in the system.

How companies broke the hiring process

Risk-averse hiring managers

Hiring managers are increasingly risk-averse because their jobs are on the line. Senior executives won’t wait for people to develop or for seeds to germinate—they want instant results or you’re gone. This creates a culture where only perfect fits get hired.

Recruiters use heavy filtering

Recruiters apply specific filters that make it nearly impossible to be seen unless you’re a strong fit. You also need to be an early applicant because by day two or three, they’ve already identified their candidates and you’re on the outside looking in.

The broken interview process

Too many unnecessary steps

Even if you get past the initial screening, you face endless rounds: recruiter screen, technical screen, hiring manager interview, panel interview, senior executive interview. There’s always one more person, one more step they want you to go through.

One-way interviews and AI agents

Companies are increasingly using one-way interviews or worse, making you interview with AI agents. This is particularly off-putting and removes the human element that makes interviews effective for both parties.

Why getting a job is so difficult: the offer process

Lowballing despite upfront expectations

Even when you’re upfront about salary expectations, companies still lowball you during negotiations. They use the excuse that you should just be happy to have a job in today’s market, completely ignoring your stated requirements.

No job security even after hiring

If you’re fortunate enough to get the job, good luck keeping it for more than a year or two before the next layoff wave hits. This has become the new normal in today’s job market.

What you can do about getting a job is so difficult

Don’t be an average candidate

In a competitive market, you can’t afford to be average. Dust up your skills, fill skill gaps, and make sure your resume clearly shows your fit quickly. You need to stand out in a sea of qualified candidates.

Prepare thoroughly for interviews

Interviews are too hard to come by right now to waste them. Make sure you know exactly what you’re doing when you walk into that interview room. Preparation is your competitive advantage.

Build strategic networks

Connect with the right kinds of people who can actually help propel your career forward. Your network should produce opportunities, not just be a list of contacts you hit up when you’re desperate.

Strategy is everything in getting a job

Stop winging your career

Most people wing it in their careers, which is why they run into problems. The job market has changed, and you need to adapt with it. Operating without direction will only lead to more frustration.

Think twice before quitting

If you have a job and are considering quitting, take a long hard look at the labor market first. Make sure you have a soft landing place set up. This isn’t a market where you want to quit and take your chances.

The new normal of getting a job is so difficult

This is our reality now

Unfortunately, this broken job market appears to be our new normal. Companies have created a system that doesn’t work for anyone—not candidates, not employers, not the economy. The cyclical nature of employment keeps getting shorter, and job security is a thing of the past.

Adaptation is required

Now is the time to adapt. You can’t change the market, but you can change how you approach it. Focus on what you can control: your skills, your network, your preparation, and your strategy.

Why companies won’t fix this

Short-term thinking dominates

Companies are more short-term minded than ever, only looking at the next earnings report. They don’t invest in long-term employee development or career progression. It’s all about immediate results and quarterly performance.

They have all the power

With thousands of applicants per role, companies don’t need to improve their processes. They can afford to be picky, create barriers, and lowball offers because there’s always someone else willing to take the job.

Getting a job is so difficult — but not impossible

Focus on what you can control

While you can’t fix the broken system, you can work around it. Build a strong personal brand, develop in-demand skills, create a compelling value proposition, and network strategically. These are the things that will help you stand out in a crowded market.

Think like a business owner

Treat your career like a business. What value do you provide? Who are your target customers (employers)? How do you differentiate yourself from competitors? This mindset shift can help you navigate even the most difficult job markets.

FAQs

Live example — user point of view

I’ve been applying for 6 months and finally understand why getting a job is so difficult. I applied to 200+ positions, got 3 interviews, and 0 offers. The process is broken—companies want perfect fits, not potential. I had to completely rethink my approach: instead of applying to everything, I focused on 5 target companies, built relationships with employees there, and created case studies showing exactly how I’d solve their problems. It took 3 months, but I got an offer 30% above my previous salary. The key was treating my job search like a business development process, not a numbers game.