Technologies

Why Can’t I Get a Job Right Now? 9 Expert Tips to Stand Out to Recruiters

From ghosting to burnout, here’s how you can stay sane and get hired in a brutal job market.

Since getting laid off from a tech marketing role last November, Stephanie Wandell has applied to hundreds of jobs. She’s heard back from only a handful of recruiters, without any offers.

«I was a little bit naive going into it, thinking I could do what I always do and depend on applying to as many places as I can,» said Wandell. «It became pretty clear that this time is different.»

Ask anyone who’s unemployed and they’ll tell you today’s job market is more challenging than it used to be. In the past several months, my LinkedIn social feed has been a testament to that. Laid-off professionals share posts about their agonizing battles to find employment, with job searches stretching more than a year.

Amid signs of an economic slowdown, companies are pulling back on hiring, leaving job seekers in the lurch. Facing fierce competition for a shrinking pool of open positions, candidates are trying to master new strategies to get past AI screeners into the hands of a human recruiter. Some wait months for a response, only to be ghosted by HR departments.

Even if official unemployment figures appear relatively low, millions of Americans are wading through this emotional and financial roller coaster. The health of the job market is measured by people’s ability to get a job, said Daniel Zhao, lead economist at the career and job search site Glassdoor.

Hearing these experiences, I had a lot of questions. Is the job hunt miserable for everyone? Why are so many qualified and talented workers getting the silent treatment? How are folks using AI in their search? What is HR actually looking for?

I spoke with several career specialists to gather the most straightforward advice for helping job seekers on their journey. I also compiled a list of free employment resources and upskilling platforms below.

1. Focus on quality over quantity

Sending out hundreds of applications with the same resume might feel like the right approach but it’s not the best use of your time.

«We find many job seekers in the market haphazardly applying to any and/or all jobs instead of targeting relevant ones,» said Chad Sowash of the Chad and Cheese Podcast, which covers recruitment technology, talent management and workforce economics.

Instead of spending several hours applying to multiple jobs, use that time to tailor each resume toward the role you really want. Companies are becoming increasingly selective in their hiring practices so job seekers also need to be choosier about where they apply.

«Not all positions and hiring companies will be a fit so don’t try to be all things to all people,» Sowash said.

To narrow down your search, think about what you’re looking for in terms of work environment and responsibilities, said Sam DeMase, career expert at ZipRecruiter. «Don’t just throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks.»

Identify the value that makes you an exceptional candidate. «If your resume is very generic and doesn’t speak to your specific superpowers, you’re not going to get as many hits as you would with a hyper-tailored resume,» DeMase said.

2. Optimize your resume for automated software

When you apply to a job online, your resume likely won’t go straight to a recruiter or hiring manager. Nearly all Fortune 500 companies use an applicant tracking system, or ATS, to process applications and dismiss candidates automatically.

As my CNET colleague pointed out in a 2023 story on resume robots, the ATS software scans applications for a specific percentage of matching keywords, typically 70% to 80%. If there’s not a high match with the posting, your application probably won’t make it to the next stage, regardless of your qualifications.

To create an ATS-friendly resume, read the job description thoroughly and note particular keywords, phrases or skills. If the requirements accurately align with your qualifications, add them to your resume using the same language. That said, don’t go overboard. While keywords are important, stuffing your resume with too many can read as unnatural.

Jobscan, Skillsyncer and multiple other online platforms provide free resume scanning tools geared toward optimizing your application for ATS.

Zhao said resume keyword optimization isn’t about «beating» the computer. It’s about making sure recruiters and hiring managers see your skills and experience.

Once you have the right balance of keywords, simplify your formatting to make it clean and concise, which helps the ATS and recruiters review your resume. Avoid using fancy headers and footers, graphics or tables, which often get garbled by the computer software.

3. Be ready to act fast

Set up multiple job alerts and be ready to act immediately on the openings you like the most. DeMase recommends being one of the first people to apply to the job posting so that your resume doesn’t get pushed to a later round.

«Unfortunately, these jobs are getting posted and have more than 100 applicants within 48 hours or sooner,» said Demase. If you have multiple versions of your resume ready, you can adapt quickly.

Just because a posting is still up after several weeks doesn’t mean the company is still reviewing applications or looking for new candidates.

4. Leverage AI, but don’t rely on it

In 2024, more than 50% of job seekers used AI to draft resumes and cover letters. While generative AI tools like ChatGPT can speed up the writing process, they tend to produce generic, impersonal content.

«One of the issues I see with job seekers who overly rely on AI is that their application ends up looking like everybody else’s who is using AI as well,» said Zhao.

To avoid the same formulaic responses, provide detailed prompts that emphasize the parts of your application that align with the job description and make your background and experience unique. For example, you can ask the chatbot to review your cover letter and suggest ways to make it more compelling based on your abilities and interests.

«It’s important for people to think about how their resume distinguishes them, how their skill set, even if it’s nontraditional, might give them a different perspective than other people in the candidate pool,» Zhao said.

5. Network strategically

Even in today’s digital age, networking remains incredibly powerful for landing a job, especially considering that many roles aren’t advertised online but filled through referrals.

If you’re new to networking, start reaching out to the people around you: family and friends, alumni and former co-workers. Ask them if they know anyone in a career field that interests you or works at a company you’re curious about.

«Folks can go quiet after a layoff, because there’s a deep sense of shame, particularly in our society, where so much of our identity is associated with our work and our productivity,» said Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of JVS Bay Area, a workforce development nonprofit. «It’s important to fight through that, tap into your network and let people know you’re looking.»

Instead of just requesting a job or connection, actively engage in conversations, ask thoughtful questions, share your own insights and look for ways to offer value, said DeMase. Sending out a handful of personalized emails will get you farther than dozens of generic copy-and-paste notes.

6. Build additional skills

Showcasing competitive skills like data analysis, digital collaboration and AI tool expertise is crucial in today’s job market. Instead of prioritizing traditional credentials like education, 76% of employers put greater value on actual work experience and demonstrated abilities, even if you’re self-taught.

«You can make yourself stand out by indicating the different things you’ve learned on your own and how that could apply to that employer,» said Countryman-Quiroz.

Free online courses, such as LinkedIn Learning or IBM SkillsBuild, can help you learn valuable skills or even obtain official certification. Local colleges and community centers frequently provide low-cost courses on anything from digital marketing to insurance licensing.

If you’ve been unemployed for a long time, you can use courses and training to fill in the gaps on your resume, which shows that you’re proactive and self-directed.

7. Mentally prepare for ghosting

For many, the toughest part of job hunting is never hearing back. Though being ghosted by an employer or recruiter can feel incredibly personal, it’s not a reflection of your skills or qualifications. Research from LinkedIn found that almost 40% of candidates say they’re applying to more jobs than ever and hearing back less.

There are countless reasons why HR doesn’t follow up: budget cuts, hiring freezes, internal shifts or too many applicants. You might never know the real reason.

You can send a polite follow-up email to the hiring manager to demonstrate your continued interest, which may prompt them to respond. But try not to blame yourself or spend too much time dissecting why you didn’t hear back.

After being ghosted following multiple interviews, Wandell started The Job Ghosting Project, a list of anonymous stories from job seekers who’ve been ignored by companies. Within a week of posting the survey, Wandell received more than 500 submissions, with responses ranging from recent grads to high-level executives.

«The goal is really just to document these patterns, validate the job seekers and push for accountability in the hiring process,» said Wandell.

8. Set up thoughtfully for interviews

Interview prep goes beyond knowing your resume and the role. You’ll need to show why you want this specific job with this specific employer.

Start with research. Look at the company’s recent news, press releases, social media and reviews. Understand their latest projects, challenges and competition.

Use the STAR method. Break down each requirement in the job description and connect it to a specific example from your experience. Practice structuring your answers using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to demonstrate your impact in a clear and concise way.

Practice, practice, practice. Say your interview answers out loud, not just in your head. If possible, do a practice interview with someone you trust and get honest feedback. That can help identify awkward phrasing and make you more confident during the real thing.

Prepare questions for the interviewer. Asking thoughtful questions of the hiring team shows your engagement and understanding of the role/company.

9. Make the search sustainable

It’s common to feel discouraged, stressed and embarrassed when faced with rejection. «The job search is a slog and you have to make sure that you’re doing it in a sustainable manner,» said Zhao. «You can’t just apply to 100 jobs every day because you’ll burn yourself out.»

Set clear boundaries for your job-hunting hours, schedule regular breaks and set up informal meetings to network. Focus on having a support system in place, especially with other people looking for work. Being in a group with people in the same situation can really «diminish the shame that so many feel around not being employed,» said Countryman-Quiroz.

After joining a job-seeker support group during a previous layoff, Wandell started her own group this past year. It started with five people and it’s now grown to 50 to 100 participants. «It’s a space for people to vent but also to ask questions, network and brainstorm,» said Wandell.

Read more: Layoffs Are Happening. How to Prepare if You Think You Might Lose Your Job

Free job search platforms and upskilling resources

We compiled a list of resources to help sharpen your skills and streamline your search.

General job boards

Industry-specific/niche job boards

InHerSight: Organization providing career advice and job matching specifically for women.
Jobs in Logistics: Job search site for employment in logistics, supply chain, transportation, inventory management and more.
The Mom Project: Resource community geared toward working mothers seeking out family-friendly companies.
Recruit Military: A military-to-civilian recruiting company connecting military veterans, transitioning military service members and their spouses with employment opportunities.
Remote Jobs: Site curated by remote work specialist Rowena Hennigan, providing resources for remote work openings.
SchoolSpring: National job board for teachers and others in education.
Superpath: Job board for content strategists, writers and freelance bloggers.
Working Nomads: Job search site for global remote work tailored specifically toward digital working nomads.
VC Job Boards: Curated list of job boards featuring venture capital positions.

Workplace development nonprofits

STRIVE: Offers tuition-free skills training, job readiness support and personal coaching for those seeking to improve their career prospects.
NPower: Provides part-time tech skills training, including IT, cloud computing and cybersecurity, with opportunities for paid internships.
Goodwill: Offers job training and employment services, career development and financial literacy programs, as well as job placement assistance.
Year Up: Focuses on helping low-income young adults gain IT and business skills through paid internships and job placement.

Upskilling

Coursera: Offers courses, certificates, and degrees from top universities and companies, covering subjects like computer science, business and data science.
Udemy: A vast online marketplace for courses, with options ranging from health and fitness to IT and software, and more.
LinkedIn Learning: Provides courses on business, creative, and technology skills, taught by industry experts.
Skillshare: A community-based platform for creative and curious people, with classes in illustration, design, photography and more.
edX: Offers university-level courses from various institutions, including MIT and Harvard, covering a range of topics.
IBM SkillsBuild: Provides free access to learning materials and certifications in areas like cloud computing and AI.
HubSpot Academy: Offers free courses and resources on marketing, sales and customer service.
Google Skillshop: Provides free digital skills training through online learning platforms.
Microsoft Learn: Offers free online training and certifications on Microsoft products.
freeCodeCamp: A platform for learning web development through online courses.
MIT OpenCourseWare: Provides access to free MIT course materials.

Technologies

Liquid Glass, Camera, Phone Apps Lead New iOS 26 iPhone Features

The iPhone will get a glassy new look and several new features when iOS 26 arrives in the fall.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is a peek into the near future of the iPhone, and this year, that view is through a Liquid Glass lens. That’s the name of a new look being applied throughout the Apple product line that takes on visual characteristics of glass similar to the VisionOS interface on Vision Pro. In addition to the new look, iOS 26 (numbered to coincide with 2026, the new naming convention for all of Apple’s system releases) brings improvements to the Phone app, redesigned Camera and Photos apps, a sprinkling of Apple Intelligence and much more.

The next version of the operating system is due to ship in the fall (likely with new iPhone 17 models), but developer betas are available now with a public beta expected in July.

Transparent new Liquid glass design

After more than a decade of a flat, clean user interface — an overhaul introduced in iOS 7 when former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive took over the design of software as well as hardware — the iPhone is getting a new look. The new design extends throughout the Apple product lineup, from iOS to WatchOS, TVOS and iPadOS.

The Liquid Glass interface also now enables a third way to view app icons on the iPhone home screen. Not content with Light and Dark modes, iOS 26 now features an All Clear look — every icon is clear glass with no color. Lock screens can also have an enhanced 3D effect using spatial scenes, which use machine learning to give depth to your background photos.

Dynamic and adaptable lock screen

Translucency is the defining characteristic of Liquid Glass, behaving like glass in the real world in the way it deals with light and color of objects behind and near controls. But it’s not just a glassy look: The «liquid» part of Liquid Glass refers to how controls can merge and adapt — dynamically morphing, in Apple’s words. In the example Apple showed, the glassy time numerals on an iPhone lock screen stretched to accommodate the image of a dog and even shrunk as the image shifted to accommodate incoming notifications. The dock and widgets are now rounded, glassy panels that float above the background.

Camera and Photos apps go even more minimal

The Camera app is getting a new, simplified interface. You could argue that the current Camera app is pretty minimal, designed to make it quick to frame a shot and hit the big shutter button. But the moment you get into the periphery, it becomes a weird mix of hidden controls and unintuitive icons.

Now, the Camera app in iOS 26 features a «new, more intuitive design» that takes minimalism to the extreme. The streamlined design shows just two controls: Video or Camera. Swipe left or right to choose modes. Swipe up for settings such as aspect ratio and timers, and tap for additional preferences.

With the updated Photos app, viewing the pictures you capture should be a better experience — a welcome change that customers have clamored for since iOS 18’s cluttered attempt. Instead of a long, difficult-to-discover scrolling interface, Photos regains a Liquid Glass menu at the bottom of the screen.

The Phone app gets a revamp

The Phone app has kept more closely to the look of its source than others: a sparse interface with large buttons as if you’re holding an old-fashioned headset or pre-smartphone cellular phone. iOS 26 finally updates that look not just with the new overall interface but in a unified layout that takes advantage of the larger screen real estate on today’s iPhone models.

It’s not just looks that are different, though. The Phone app is trying to be more useful for dealing with actual calls — the ones you want to take. The Call Screening feature automatically answers calls from unknown numbers, and your phone rings only when the caller shares their name and reason for calling.

Or what about all the time wasted on hold? Hold Assist automatically detects hold music and can mute the music but keep the call connected. Once a live agent becomes available, the phone rings and lets the agent know you’ll be available shortly.

Messages updates

The Messages app is probably one of the most used apps on the iPhone, and for iOS 26, Apple is making it a more colorful experience. You can add backgrounds to the chat window, including dynamic backgrounds that show off the new Liquid Glass interface.

In addition to the new look, group texts in Messages can incorporate polls for everyone in the group to reply to — no more scrolling back to find out which restaurant Brett suggested for lunch that you missed. Other members in the chat can also add their own items to a poll.

A more useful feature is a feature to detect spam texts better and screen unknown numbers, so the messages you see in the app are the ones you want to see and not the ones that distract you.

Safari gets out of its own way

In the Safari app, the Liquid Glass design floats the tab bar above the web page (although that looks right where your thumb is going to be, so it will be interesting to see if you can move the bar to the top of the screen). As you scroll, the tab bar shrinks.

FaceTime focuses on calls, not controls

FaceTime also gets the minimal look, with controls in the lower-right corner that disappear during the call to get out of the way. On the FaceTime landing page, posters of your contacts, including video clips of previous calls, are designed to make the app more appealing.

New Music app features

Do you like the sound of that song your friend is playing but don’t understand the language the lyrics are in? The Music app includes a new lyrics translation feature that displays along with the lyrics as the song plays. And for when you want to sing along with one of her favorite K-pop songs, for example, but you don’t speak or read Korean, a lyrics pronunciation feature spells out the right way to form the sounds.

AutoMix blends songs like a DJ, matching the beat and time-stretching for a seamless transition.

And if you find yourself obsessively listening to artists and albums again and again, you can pin them to the top of your music library for quick access.

New Games app is a reminder that yes, people game on iPhone

The iPhone doesn’t get the same kind of gaming affection as Nintendo’s Switch or Valve’s Steam Deck, but the truth is that the iPhone and Android phones are used extensively for gaming — Apple says half a billion people play games on iPhone.

Trying to capitalize on that, a new Games app acts as a specific portal to Apple Arcade and other games. Yes, you can get to those from the App Store app, but the Games app is designed to remove a layer of friction so you can get right to the gaming action.

Live translation enhances calls and texts

Although not specific to iOS, Apple’s new live translation feature is ideal on the iPhone when you’re communicating with others. It uses Apple Intelligence to dynamically enable you to talk to someone who speaks a different language in near-real time. It’s available in the Messages, FaceTime and Phone apps and shows live translated captions during a conversation.

Maps gets more personal

Updates to the Maps app sometimes involve adding more detail to popular areas or restructuring the way you store locations. Now, the app takes note of routes you travel frequently and can alert you of any delays before you get on the road.

It also includes a welcome feature for those of us who get our favorite restaurants mixed up: visited places. The app notes how many times you’ve been to a place, be that a local business, eatery or tourist destination. It organizes them in categories or other criteria such as by city to make them easier to find the next time.

New CarPlay features

Liquid Glass also makes its way to CarPlay in your vehicle, with a more compact design when a call comes in that doesn’t obscure other items, such as a directional map. In Messages, you can apply tapbacks and pin conversations for easy access.

Widgets are now part of the CarPlay experience, so you can focus on just the data you want, like the current weather conditions. And Live Activities appear on the CarPlay screen, so you’ll know when that coffee you ordered will be done or when a friend’s flight is about to arrive.

Wallet improvements

The Wallet app is already home for using Apple Card, Apple Pay, electronic car keys and for storing tickets and passes. In iOS 26, you can create a new Digital ID that acts like a passport for age and identity verification (though it does not replace a physical passport) for domestic travel for TSA screening at airports.

The app can also let you use rewards and set up installment payments when you purchase items in a store, not just for online orders. And with the help of Apple Intelligence, the Wallet app can help you track product orders, even if you did not use Apple Pay to purchase them. It can pull details such as shipping numbers from emails and texts so that information is all in one place.

New features powered by Apple Intelligence

Although last year’s WWDC featured Apple Intelligence features heavily, improvements to the AI tech were less prominent this year, folded into the announcements during the WWDC keynote.

As an alternative to creating Genmoji from scratch, you can combine existing emojis — «like a sloth and a light bulb when you’re the last one in the group chat to get the joke,» to use Apple’s example. You can also change expressions in Genmoji of people you know that you’ve used to create the image.

Image Playground adds the ability to tap into ChatGPT’s image generation tools to go beyond the app’s animation or sketch styles.

Visual Intelligence can already use the camera to try to decipher what’s in front of the lens. Now the technology works on the content on the iPhone’s screen, too. It does this by taking a screenshot (press the sleep and volume up buttons) and then including a new Image Search option in that interface to find results across the web or in other apps such as Etsy.

This is also a way to add event details from images you come across, like posters for concerts or large gatherings. (Perhaps this could work for QR codes as well?) In the screenshot interface, Visual Intelligence can parse the text and create an event in the Calendar app.

Some iOS 26 updates Apple didn’t mention

Not everything fits into a keynote presentation — even, or maybe especially, when it’s all pre-recorded — but some of the more interesting new features in iOS 26 went unremarked during the big reveal. For instance:

If you have AirPods or AirPods Pro with the H2 chip, you can use AirPods Camera Remote to start recording video on your iPhone by pressing and holding one of the AirPods.
You can choose your own snooze duration of between 1 and 15 minutes for alarms.
Audio recording options have expanded, enabling high-quality recording during conference calls and high-definition recording in the Camera app with AirPods and AirPods Pro that contain the H2 chip.
Accessibility features include an «all-new experience designed with Braille users in mind,» more options for the Vehicle Motion Cues feature to avoid motion sickness and «a more customizable reading experience.»
Reminders uses Apple Intelligence to «suggest tasks, grocery items and follow-ups based on emails or other text on your device.»
The Journal app supports multiple journals, inline images and a map view that tracks where journal entries were made.
Parental controls have been updated in unspecified ways, including «enhancements across Communication Limits, Communication Safety and the App Store.»

iOS 26 availability

The finished version of iOS 26 will be released in September or October with new iPhone 17 models. In the meantime, developers will get access to the first developer betas starting on Monday, with an initial public beta arriving in July. (Don’t forget to go into any beta software with open eyes and clear expectations.)

Follow the WWDC 2025 live blog for details about Apple’s announcements.

iPhone models compatible with iOS 26

iOS 26 will run on the iPhone 11 and later models, including the iPhone SE (2nd generation and later). That includes:

iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

Technologies

5G Internet Is Beating Fiber in Customer Satisfaction: Here’s Why 5G Might Be Here to Stay

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, June 11

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for June 11.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Make sure you think of the right computer shortcut for 8-Across in today’s NYT Mini Crossword, or you’ll be off by a letter. Don’t ask me how I know. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: For this, you’ll be swimming with the fishes
Answer: SCUBA

6A clue: Birth-related
Answer: NATAL

7A clue: «They’re in for ___ awakening!»
Answer: ARUDE

8A clue: «Cut» shortcut, on PCs
Answer: CTRL-X

9A clue: Nairobi is its capital
Answer: KENYA

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Quick bite
Answer: SNACK

2D clue: À la ___
Answer: CARTE

3D clue: Maneuver done from the left lane only
Answer: UTURN

4D clue: In the worst way
Answer: BADLY

5D clue: Whom to tell «Turn off the lights» or «Play some music»
Answer: ALEXA

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.