A master's student at Cardiff University has recounted the extreme difficulties of entering the job market, after applying for over 400 positions and receiving only three interview invitations. 21-year-old Karyna Lohvynenko, whose experience includes work with the United Nations and institutions in the US and UK, says she has repeatedly faced the phenomenon known as "ghosting," where employers give no response, not even a rejection.
"After dozens of applications each week and only a few replies, the rest is just total silence. It's worse than rejection," she says. Despite a strong CV and international experience, she has applied in various fields—from politics and business to basic jobs like barista—without success.
Recruitment experts say this situation is becoming increasingly common. According to them, one of the main reasons is the growing use of automated systems and artificial intelligence to filter applications, which often never reach a human decision-maker.
"Many applications are never seen by a real person. AI looks for patterns, not potential," recruiters say, emphasizing that even strong candidates can get lost in the volume. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, unemployment in the UK has reached 5.2%, while for young people (aged 16-24) it has risen to over 16%, the highest level in more than a decade.
Despite the challenges, Karyna remains determined: "I know I will make it. For now, I just have to keep going until someone sees my potential."