AI Hiring 2026: LinkedIn Tips to Stand Out
- A surge in job applications and widespread layoffs are creating a challenging cycle for both job seekers and recruiters, but artificial intelligence offers a potential solution, according to...
- Janine Chamberlin told CNBC Make It that AI will be a "critical part of how hiring is done in 2026," speeding up processes and helping recruiters identify overlooked...
- The job market has been marked by critically important disruption.
AI is Becoming “Critical” to Hiring as Job Market Remains Tough
A surge in job applications and widespread layoffs are creating a challenging cycle for both job seekers and recruiters, but artificial intelligence offers a potential solution, according to LinkedIn’s U.K. country manager.
Janine Chamberlin told CNBC Make It that AI will be a “critical part of how hiring is done in 2026,” speeding up processes and helping recruiters identify overlooked talent.LinkedIn research shows 60% of recruiters say AI helps them find “hidden gem” candidates – peopel they might have missed in a manual search.
The job market has been marked by critically important disruption. Over 1 million job cuts were announced in the U.S. in 2025, the highest number since 2020, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. At the same time, the number of applications per job has skyrocketed; LinkedIn research finds U.S. applicants per open role have doubled since spring 2022.
“The job search is tougher right now, because what we are seeing is that there’s such a high volume of applications for each role that there is available…Companies are finding it hard to filter through these applications quickly enough.”
Ninety-three percent of recruiters plan to increase thier use of AI in 2026,according to LinkedIn’s research.
Avoid Sending Generic Applications
As AI becomes more central to hiring, job seekers shoudl rethink their approach. LinkedIn’s global research, surveying 19,000 people in the U.K., U.S., France, Germany, and Australia, found that 80% of workers feel unprepared for the job hunt in 2026, and nearly two-thirds believe the job search has become more challenging.
Chamberlin advises tailoring applications and avoiding mass-applying with generic cover letters.”Applying for roles that genuinely match your skills will always outperform sending lots of generic applications, for both AI and for humans,” she said.
She also suggests using AI to refine your application, ensuring your skills are clearly highlighted. “In an AI-driven job market, clarity is key,” Chamberlin said. She recommends prioritizing simple resume formats and avoiding overly stylistic templates, as these can be challenging for AI to read.
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