Why Gen Z is Ghosting Your Job Ads (and What to Do About It)

Guess how many applications a Gen Z candidate sends out before landing just 5 interviews?

430 applications to get just 5 interviews.

That’s the reality for many Gen Z job seekers today.

Fresh out of university, full of hope and ambition… only to be met with a job market that feels like a soul-crushing black hole. It’s taking them 3 to 6 months to land a job.

What’s going on? Are they just being picky?

Sure, Gen Z is known for wanting “meaningful” work. But who doesn’t want a job that aligns with their interests and values?

The problem isn’t their ambition. The problem is the outdated job search experience.

Think about it: Gen Z, the digital natives, are used to instant gratification and personalized experiences in almost every aspect of their lives:

• Hungry? GrabFood delivers in 30 minutes.

• Want the latest fashion trend? Shein and online fashion shops have you covered in days.

• Want something random? Shopee, TikTok, Lazada — it’s all at your fingertips.

• Want to learn something new? Google and YouTube tutorials are just a click away.

But finding a job? It’s a slow, frustrating, and impersonal process. They’re left sending out hundreds of resumes, hoping for a response, with no real insight into why they’re getting rejected or how to improve their chances.

See the problem?

Gen Z is used to a digital world that’s fast, personalized, and responsive. Traditional hiring methods are the opposite.

The Solution: Meet Gen Z in Their Digital World

Here’s the good news: You can attract Gen Z talent — if you embrace their digital world.

Here’s how:

• Meet Them Where They Are: Forget outdated job boards. Gen Z hangs out on Instagram, TikTok, and even Xiaohongshu. Go where they are and engage them with content that speaks their language.

• Embrace AI and Automation: Ditch the manual processes. Use AI-powered tools to streamline your hiring, from screening resumes to matching candidates with the right roles.

• Content is King (and Video is Queen): Gen Z loves short, engaging videos, eye-catching graphics, and content that’s entertaining and informative like this Follow Me To Work video.

• Track Your Progress: Use dashboards and analytics to track your candidate funnel and measure your recruitment efforts.

By embracing technology, personalization, and a more human approach, you can transform your hiring process into one that actually attracts Gen Z, instead of repelling them.

Kabel is an AI-powered job-matching platform that helps you attract and recruit top Gen Z talent. Sign up today on Kabel to explore our Gen Z talent pool here.