Graduate ‘ghosted’ by employers has applied for 400 jobs and had only three interviews
After applying for 400 jobs and receiving just three interviews, one graduate told how she was “ghosted” by countless employers.
Karyna Lohvynenko, 21, is completing a master’s degree in management and has a resume that includes work at the United Nations and councils in the UK and US.
Once dreaming of becoming president of his native Ukraine, he applied for positions in politics, business and as an entry-level barista, but didn’t even hear back from most employers.
The term ghosting is used in the dating world and means: I suddenly cut off contact with someone – but recruitment consultant Michael Jones believes this is becoming increasingly common for job applicants.
In a highly competitive market, she speaks to hundreds of graduates like Karyna who are applying for jobs every week and believes AI screening means many are abandoned without being assessed by a human.
“If I apply for about 70 jobs a week and only hear back from three people, the rest is complete silence, not even a rejection email,” said Karyna, 21.
“This uncertainty is worse than rejection… it feels like a void. It’s like your application disappears before anyone sees it.”
“Ghosting employers creates confusion, anxiety, and makes the entire process dehumanizing.”
He is currently completing a master’s degree in management and delegation at Cardiff University and graduated from Cardiff Met with a degree in business and management in law.
As well as her academic work, Karyna’s CV also includes international policy work, volunteering and work experience – working with the First Lady of the Ukraine office, at the United Nations, with British and American councils and as an ambassador for the King’s Trust.
“I have completed everything expected of a graduate…experience alone does not open doors,” he added.
Karyna sent out over 400 job applications but was only asked for three interviews [Oksana Lohvynenko]
Karyna was accepted to six universities in the USA with scholarships.
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 changed everything and he eventually moved to Wales.
Although Karyna is determined to find a job, she knows she is not alone in her desperation.
He recalls a job fair at Cardiff University and adds: “It was very impressive to see hundreds of students, many from strong backgrounds, wanting any job.
“That’s when I felt really sad.”
As a child, Karyna became interested in politics and set her sights on ruling her home country, Ukraine.
“That goal never left me,” he said.
But for now, he’s focusing on taking that first step into the workforce.
Since late February, Karyna has been applying for positions every day, often around 20 a day, while running a small business that upcycles work, work, and vintage blazers.
She’s given up on securing her “dream job” and now wants any job but has been turned down for roles ranging from politics to business to entry-level barista.
Karyna added: “I know I will be successful. It’s just a difficult phase, one that’s largely out of my control.”
“All I can do for now is keep applying until someone sees my potential.”
[Oksana Lohvynenko]
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)The report, published earlier this year, showed unemployment in the UK had risen to an almost five-year high, with the rate reaching 5.2% in the three months to December 2025.
Young people in particular are bearing the brunt, with the unemployment rate for 16-24 year olds rising to 16.1%, the highest level in more than a decade.
The latest figures released by the ONS on Tuesday were more encouraging. There was an unexpected decline in the three months to February 2026.
online platform LinkedIn reports competition for roles is fierce among young people, with chief economic opportunity officer Aneesh Raman giving job seekers some tips on their CVs.
He said AI literacy is important; Knowing what you are and what you do, as well as focusing on people skills, showing off your achievements, and not obsessing over long-term plans.
Sanderson Regional Recruitment Manager for Wales Michael Jones said experiences such as Karyna being “ghosted” were common [Sanderson Recruitment]
“I speak to graduates who apply for hundreds of positions every week and are still struggling to succeed, and unfortunately this [ghosting] “This has become the norm rather than the exception,” said recruitment consultant Michael Jones.
“The reality is that entry-level positions are in huge demand right now, and even strong graduates are getting lost in the volume.”
Many applications never reach the human decision-maker, Jones said.
“When candidates say they feel like their resumes are lost in a vacuum, I completely understand that frustration as we see many applications never reach a human,” he said.
“Not getting a response is incredibly discouraging, but in many cases this is down to automated systems and the sheer number of applicants, not a lack of talent or effort.”
Jones believes automated hiring systems may also be shaping the potential of many applicants.
He said: “We are increasingly relying 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 may be filtered out before anyone actually meets you.”
This is something Karyna experienced in a series of AI-led interviews.
“You actually talk to a screen, like a chatbot interface,” he added.
“There is usually a strict time limit… and that is not enough to explain your entire experience.
“Before you can properly introduce yourself, you feel disconnected.”
