AI will dominate hiring in 2026. LinkedIn exec’s top tips to stand out

As companies continue to be inundated with job applications, AI could be a game-changer for recruiters, according to a LinkedIn executive.

Janine Chamberlin, LinkedIn’s UK country manager, told CNBC Make It in an interview that AI will be “a critical part of the hiring process in 2026” as it speeds up processes.

“Last year was the year when trials were conducted and companies and professionals took their first steps. 2026 will be the year when artificial intelligence tools are more widely adopted, especially in recruitment,” he said.

AI can help recruiters speed up manual tasks like sifting through very high volumes of applications and reviewing resumes and cover letters to find the right skills for a job.

“We heard from 60 percent of recruiters that AI has helped them find talent that they call a ‘hidden gem,’ meaning people might have missed in their manual searches, but AI actually surfaces that as a candidate who is a good match for a particular job because it can look very specifically at those skills that are critical to doing it well,” Chamberlin said.

The job market is going through a tough time for employers and professionals alike, as widespread layoffs make headlines and professionals face intense competition for jobs.

According to data from consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, more than 1 million layoffs have been announced in the US in 2025; This is the highest level since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Meanwhile, the number of applications per role is rapidly increasing, making it difficult for employers to respond quickly to applications. Actually, Linkedin’s new research It finds that applicants per open position in the US have doubled since spring 2022.

This creates a huge cycle in the job market that is difficult for both job seekers and recruiters to deal with, Chamberlin said.

“It’s harder to look for a job right now because what we’re seeing is that there’s such a high amount of applications for every position. So, if I’m a job seeker, I’m applying for a lot of positions. On the other side, you have recruiters from companies that are getting a lot of applications.”

“Companies are struggling to filter through these applications quickly enough to find people with the right skills for the jobs they’re hiring for. And on the flip side of that, job seekers are increasingly worried that they may not hear back as they wait to hear back from companies,” Chamberlin said.

The anxious job seeker then applies for more roles to increase their chances of finding employment and perpetuating the cycle.

Chamberlin says that according to LinkedIn research, AI is “a big part of the solution” and that 93% of recruiters plan to increase their use of AI by 2026.

The start of a new year often brings new job opportunities and an influx of motivated job seekers. But as AI becomes central to recruiting, many professionals are rethinking how they navigate the job market.

LinkedIn’s global research, which surveyed 19,000 respondents worldwide including the UK, US, France, Germany and Australia, found that 80% of workers feel unprepared for the job search in 2026, and almost two-thirds feel their job search has become more challenging.

Chamberlin recommended tailoring applications and avoiding mass applications with generic cover letters; because now artificial intelligence is the first to examine a job application.

It’s important to be “on target” when preparing your resume and cover letter. “Applying for roles that actually suit your skills will always outperform sending out lots of generic applications for both AI and humans,” he said.