Topic analysis

400 job applications but only three interviews - the jobseeker feeling 'ghosted' by employers

21-year-old Ukrainian master's student Karyna Lohvynenko—who has extensive international experience including roles at the United Nations, Ukraine's First Lady's office, and the King's Trust—has applied for 400 jobs across politics, business, and entry-level sectors like barista, but only received three interviews, facing widespread employer 'ghosting' that leaves her feeling anxious and dehumanized. Recruitment consultant Michael Jones attributes this trend to AI screening tools filtering applicants before human review and oversubscribed entry-level roles, while Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows UK youth unemployment reached a 10-year high of 16.1% in late 2025 before a recent drop, with LinkedIn advising job seekers to prioritize AI literacy and people skills to stand out.