A new survey from LinkedIn found that nearly 80% of workers feel unprepared for the job search in 2026.
Philadendron | Eplus | Getty Images
As companies continue to be inundated with job applications, artificial intelligence could be a game-changer for recruiters, according to one LinkedIn executive.
Janine Chamberlin, LinkedIn’s UK country manager, told CNBC Make It that AI will be a “key part of how we hire in 2026” as it speeds up the process.
“Last year was a year of experimentation, a year in which businesses and professionals took their first steps. 2026 will be the year in which AI tools will be more widely deployed, especially in recruitment,” she said.
AI can help recruiters speed up manual tasks such as processing large volumes of applications and sifting through resumes and cover letters to find the right skills for a job.
“We hear from 60% of recruiters that AI helps them find so-called ‘hidden talent’ talent,” Chamberlin said. “It’s actually helping them identify the right candidates for a particular job, who would otherwise be missed in a manual search. Because AI can look very specifically at the skills that are critical to doing the job well.”
The job market is tough for both employers and professionals, with widespread layoffs dominating headlines and professionals facing fierce competition for jobs.
More than 1 million job cuts will be announced in the United States in 2025, the highest level since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, according to data from consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
On the other hand, the number of applications for each job category is rapidly increasing, making it difficult for employers to respond quickly to applications. In fact, a new study from Linkedin found that the number of applicants per job opening in the U.S. has doubled since spring 2022.
Chamberlin said this has created an overwhelming cycle in the job market that is difficult for both job seekers and recruiters to deal with.
“Job hunting is even more difficult now because there are so many applications for each open position. So if I’m a job seeker, I’m applying a lot. On the other hand, there are recruiters at companies who are receiving a lot of applications.
“Companies are finding it difficult to quickly filter through these applications to find people with the right skill set for the job they’re hiring, and on the other end of the spectrum, job seekers are waiting to hear back from companies and are increasingly worried that they won’t hear back,” Chamberlin said.
Anxious job seekers apply for more positions to improve their chances of getting a job, continuing the cycle.
According to LinkedIn research, AI is “a big part of the solution,” with 93% of recruiters planning to increase their use of AI in 2026, Chamberlin said.
Avoid sending generic applications
The start of a new year usually brings with it an influx of new job openings and eager job seekers. But as AI becomes more central to hiring, many professionals are rethinking how they navigate the job market.
A global LinkedIn survey of 19,000 respondents from around the world, including the UK, US, France, Germany and Australia, found that 80% of workers feel unprepared for job hunting in 2026, and nearly two-thirds feel job hunting has become more difficult.
Chamberlin advised customizing applications and avoiding mass applications with generic cover letters, as AI is now often the first to review job applications.
When writing your resume and cover letter, it’s important to be “targeted.” “Applying for roles that truly align with your skills will always perform better for both AI and humans than sending out a bunch of generic applications,” she said.
Chamberlin said AI can help make applications more concise by identifying areas where the skills needed for a particular job are not emphasized.
“In an AI-driven job market, clarity is key,” she says. “If you can clearly highlight your skills on your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, I think that naturally helps you really stand out.”
Finally, Chamberlin suggested favoring simple formatting and avoiding overly stylized templates, as they can be difficult for AI to read.
