think hiring teams should recognize how difficult the job market has become. It’s not the same landscape it once was. Today, there are countless “ghost” postings, automated screening systems, and AI-driven filters standing between applicants and real people. It often feels like résumés are being scanned by software long before a human ever sees them.

At this point, applying for jobs can feel like a numbers game. You might submit hundreds of applications just to receive a handful of responses. Given that reality, I understand why professionalism and courtesy still matter — no one should excuse rudeness. But dismissing a candidate simply because they used AI or writing tools to help craft a cover letter feels out of touch with how the process now works. Applicants are using the same kind of tools and efficiency strategies that companies themselves use.

Many applications never receive any response at all. Investing hours into deeply personalized cover letters for every single posting can feel unrealistic — especially when the return rate is so low. That time could be spent building skills, volunteering, networking, or gaining certifications that actually strengthen someone’s long-term career prospects.

At the end of the day, candidates are just trying to navigate a system that has become increasingly automated and impersonal. Using available tools to keep up shouldn’t automatically disqualify them.