Recruiting pro of 30 years: 'If I was looking for a job in 2026 I would honestly stop applying online.' What she recommends instead

J.T. O’Donnell says the online job hunt has become degrading and depressing, with employers posting fewer roles, ghost jobs, and waves of AI-driven applications. Her view is that job seekers in 2026 should stop relying on online applications and focus on being recruited.

Reading notes

#

• O’Donnell says applying online has become one of the most degrading and depressing parts of job seeking.
• She says employers have pulled back on hiring and that ghost jobs and AI-generated submissions have made the market worse.
• Her recommended approach is to build an online presence and make strategic connections so recruiters notice you.
• She suggests following 20 or 40 target companies on Glassdoor and LinkedIn and commenting thoughtfully on what they post.
• She says engaging with company content can help a candidate appear in recruiting results.
• Another tactic is to post on LinkedIn, connect with people at target companies, and have conversations about work, the industry, and skill sets.
• She describes this as a new form of networking that can lead to direct messages and introductions.
• In one example, a project manager used a daily routine of posting, tagging companies, and reaching out to employees, and a recruiter called him on day 17 with an unposted job.
• O’Donnell says content that works well on LinkedIn includes industry observations, contrarian takes, before-and-after comparisons, listicles, and personal work stories.