If you’re job searching right now, it can feel like your efforts and outcomes aren’t lining up. The job search is changing, and competition isn’t easing. The result: nearly 80% of job seekers say they feel unprepared to find a new job this year. At the same time, two-thirds of recruiters say it’s become harder to find qualified talent over the last year. This tension has become a defining feature of the job hunt.
There’s no denying that AI is reshaping how work gets done, and in the new year, both recruiters and job seekers are planning to use the technology to gain a competitive edge. The good news is that the fundamentals of what makes for a good hire haven’t changed drastically. But as AI tools continue to evolve, the way job seekers show up and hirers evaluate talent is shifting.
As LinkedIn’s Career Expert, I have front-row access to how the job market is changing, based on our unique data and member insights, and have spent over a decade helping professionals navigate their careers with confidence as work continues to evolve.
Here’s what job seekers need to know about how to stand out and make AI work for them, not against them, in 2026.
Do focus on your skills, don’t try to game the system
When job seekers update their résumé or LinkedIn Profile, many fall into the same trap: trying to say everything at once. In the age of AI, that can look like keyword stuffing in hopes an LLM picks it up. But this often backfires, making applications feel inauthentic or mismatched to the role.
Instead, what works best is to lead with the actual skills you have—and specific explanations as to what you actually did, how you did it, and what came of it. Saying you “led a cross-functional launch that improved customer retention by 2x,” for example, gives far more insight than a dense list of generic responsibilities. This level of detail will help you stand out to recruiters, many of whom are already tapping AI to find candidates with skills they’d never have found before.
So, take the time to revisit how you present your qualifications. You may even rediscover skills you’ve been applying for years without realizing they’re in-demand now, like problem-solving and adaptability, so you can stand out more and have an easier time spotting roles that are actually a good fit for you.
Don’t be intimidated by the AI interview, do practice ahead of time
For many job seekers, the first interaction with a potential employer now happens through an AI-led prescreen or interview. That alone can be enough to throw people off. The format feels unfamiliar, but my biggest advice to job seekers is to treat it like a normal interview.
Today, AI-led prescreenings help hiring teams manage application overload so they can spend their time evaluating and interviewing candidates who are truly a good fit. In fact, two-thirds of recruiters say AI prescreening interviews can help them get better insights about candidates, even across a large applicant pool.
For job seekers, I recommend practicing an AI interview beforehand so you’re not caught off guard the first time you encounter one. Use AI tools to practice a run-through, testing out your responses to common interview questions, how you’d introduce yourself, and how you’d describe your strengths and yes, your weaknesses (aka opportunities for growth!).
If you’re able to clearly communicate your experience and what you’ll bring to the role, you’ll move more smoothly through the hiring process, from pre-screening to live interviews.
Do invest in relationships, don’t wait until you need them
Even as AI becomes more ingrained in the job search process, it’s still humans who make the biggest impact in your job search and career more broadly.
But a mistake people make is waiting until they’ve started looking for a new job to tap into their network. Even well-intentioned messages can come across as transactional if you’re only reaching out when you need something.
Strong connections often start with shared context, not a specific ask, so reaching out early and often to your network is the best approach. This can be as simple as sending a quick check-in to a former coworker, a past manager, or a recruiter you meant to follow up with. A simple “saw your promotion, congrats” or “this made me think of you” goes further than you think. If you’re not sure what to say, there are a ton of tools you can tap to help you find some common ground or the right words.
The biggest takeaway: when relationships are warm, people are more likely to vouch for you or share opportunities you might not otherwise see. This can make all the difference, especially in a tough job market where many hiring managers give extra consideration to applicants who have a referral.
Bottom Line: Use AI to get clearer, not slicker
Hiring may look different than it did a few years ago, but the basics haven’t changed as much as it may feel. Skills, curiosity, and judgment still matter.
What has changed is how job seekers can use AI to take charge of their job search. On LinkedIn, you can now describe what type of role you want, using plain language, and jobs you might not have thought to search for will come up. You can take a similar approach when looking for a new connection too, making it easier to build your network.
When used strategically, AI can help you job search more intentionally so you can spend your energy where it matters most, and put your best foot forward in 2026.