After applying for 400 jobs and going through three interviews, one graduate described how she was “ghosted” by countless employers.
Karina Lohvinenko, 21, is doing a masters in governance and has a CV that includes work at the United Nations and councils around the UK and US.
Once dreaming of becoming president of her native Ukraine, she has applied for politics, business and entry-level barista roles, but has not been heard from by most employers.
Ghosting is a term used in the dating world, and it means suddenly cutting off contact with someone – but recruitment consultant Michael Jones believes it’s becoming increasingly common for job applicants.
In a fiercely competitive market, he talks to graduates like Karina every week who have applied for hundreds of jobs, and believes AI screening is leaving many out before a human even considers it.
“If I apply to about 70 jobs per week and only hear from three, the rest is complete silence – not even a rejection email,” said Karina, 21.
“That uncertainty is worse than rejection… It feels like a void. Like your application disappears before anyone sees it.
“The specter of employers creates confusion, anxiety, and makes the whole process feel dehumanizing.”
She is currently doing a Masters in Governance and Devolution at Cardiff University, having graduated from Cardiff Met with a degree in Business and Management with a Law pathway.
Alongside her academic work, Karina’s CV includes international policy work, volunteering and business experience – in the Office of the First Lady of Ukraine, at the United Nations, working with the British and American Councils, and as an ambassador for the King’s Trust.
“I accomplished everything expected of a graduate … Experience alone doesn’t open doors,” he added.
Kareena has sent over 400 job applications, but has only been asked for three interviews [Oksana Lohvynenko]
Kareena was admitted to six American universities on scholarship.
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 changed everything, and she moved to Wales.
While Karina is determined to find work, she knows she is not alone in her frustration.
She recalls a job fair at Cardiff University, adding: “Seeing hundreds of students – with very strong backgrounds – asking for any job was overwhelming.
“It felt really annoying at the time.”
As a child, Karina became interested in politics and set her sights on the leadership of her home country – Ukraine.
“That goal has never left me,” she said.
For now, however, his focus remains on securing the first step into the workforce.
Since late February, Kareena has been applying daily, often to around 20 roles a day, while balancing study, work and running a small business upcycling vintage blazers.
She has given up on securing a “dream job” and now wants any kind of work, but has been rejected for roles ranging from politics, business to entry-level barista.
Kareena added: “I know I will succeed. It’s just a tough phase, which is largely out of my control.
“For now, all I can do is keep applying until someone sees my potential.”
[Oksana Lohvynenko]
Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released earlier this year showed unemployment in the UK is at its highest level for nearly five years, with the rate reaching 5.2% in the three months to December 2025.
Unemployment among young people, especially those aged 16 to 24, is rising to 16.1% – the highest level in more than a decade.
Tuesday’s latest ONS figures were more encouraging, with an unexpected fall in the three months to February 2026.
Online platform LinkedIn has reported that there is fierce competition among young people for roles, with Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Anish Raman offering some tips for CV job seekers.
He said AI literacy is important — knowing what it is and what it does, as well as focusing on your people skills, showing your achievements, and not focusing on long-term plans.
Michael Jones, Wales regional manager for Sanderson Recruitment, said Karina’s experience of being “ghosted” was widespread. [Sanderson Recruitment]
“I speak to graduates every week who have applied for hundreds of roles and are still struggling to break through and unfortunately, that’s it. [ghosting] Be the norm instead of the exception,” said recruiting consultant Michael Jones.
“The reality is that entry level roles are now massively oversubscribed, and even strong graduates are getting lost in the volume.”
Jones said many applications never reach a human decision maker.
“When candidates say their CV feels like it’s lost in the void, I completely understand that frustration as we see so many applications never get through to a human,” he said.
“It’s incredibly frustrating not to hear back, but in most cases it’s down to automated systems and sheer applicant numbers, not a lack of ability or effort.”
Automated recruiting systems can also shape the prospects of many applicants, Jones believes.
He said: “We are seeing an increasing reliance on AI screening and one-way video interviews, especially in the early stages, and this can feel very impersonal for candidates.
“The danger is that AI looks for patterns, not potential. If your experience or communication style doesn’t match what the system expects, you could be filtered out before anyone actually meets you.”
This is something Kareena has experienced in AI-led interviews.
“You’re essentially speaking to a screen, like a chatbot interface,” she added.
“There’s usually a strict time cap… that’s not enough to explain your full experience.
“You feel cut off before you can present yourself well.”
