Online applications are still the dominant way people land interviews, but their effectiveness is slipping. In 2025, online applications fell to 66% of interviews, down from a 76% peak in 2023, and their share of job offers dropped from 73% to 60%, even as they continue to generate twice as many interviews as all other sources combined, according to Glassdoor data reported by HR Executive.
AI Era Career Longevity Coaching Suite
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Real AI Era Job Seeker Survival Skills
How do you get an interview after submitting an online application? Recruiters have seen a huge increase in online applications with “AI enhanced” resumes created to match the job posting. Because AI tools allow thousands of candidates to apply instantly, Recruiters often review only the first 100 applicants. Job seekers need to configure real time job alerts, apply within 24 hours AND submit an optimized resume.
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AI Resume Optimization
Learn the art of resume customization without lying. AI screeners aka bots now rank candidates by skill alignment, phrasing, and relevance. For each online application, job seekers now need to mirror job language in the posting without lying, reframe real experience to match role requirements, and focus the resume on the right accomplishments for each posting.
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Get Ready for AI Interviews
Get ready to master AI-driven interviews. That means both video and automated screening. Many organizations now use one-way AI prescreening phone interviews, one-way prescreening video interviews and AI transcription.
It’s much more difficult for job seekers who are now dealing with algorithms in phone screens run by AI, structuring interview responses for scoring models, and on top of all of that building their camera presence. Candidates are discovering that when it comes to interviews, it’s no longer enough to be qualified and personable in the interview. They are required to deliver on performance and deal with the AI structure.
