I’ve been doing job requests on Zip Recruiter for years. A few phone calls, and an occasional interview , otherwise ZIP. Nada. Nothing. Great for generating the paperwork needed for unemployment insurance but otherwise worthless to me. Since most jobs offered only require one click I pursue it anyways.
And this is a major source of the problem.
Companies have resorted to reducing applicants to numerical algorithms. The computer decides first if you’re worthy — and weeds you out before a human being sees it.
A best practice these days is to bypass the system and go direct. Use your network to look for contacts within targeted companies and reach out to the hiring managers, name dropping along the way. You become a salesperson — regardless of the actual role — selling yourself as a commodity.
Computer-based recruiting has destroyed the company’s ability to look at the nuances that make a great candidate, and have reduced the applicants to mere check boxes. A candidate can have all the checks, but still be a lousy employee…