Ghosted by the Machine

This episode features Dominick Petrillo, a determined job seeker whose journey highlights resilience, purpose, and the human side of hiring. You will learn how automated systems and artificial intelligence can make job searching feel isolating, why perseverance matters when facing personal and professional challenges, and how human stories are often overlooked behind resumes and algorithms.

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This episode features Jillian O’Malior, a brand and employer marketing professional with sixteen years of experience who shares what it feels like to be on the other side of today’s hiring process. You will learn why recruiter ghosting happens, how the lack of transparency affects job seekers emotionally, and why empathy and communication matter more than ever in an AI-driven job market.

This episode features Jennifer Fessler, PhD, a neuroscience and organizational growth professional who shares how understanding human behavior and self awareness can help candidates navigate today’s AI driven hiring process. You will learn how automation is changing recruitment, why authenticity matters more than ever, and how insights from neuroscience and organizational dynamics can help professionals position themselves for the right opportunities.

This episode features Dave Larson, a technology professional pursuing his next role as a cloud marketplace specialist who shares what it is really like trying to reenter the tech industry in an AI driven hiring market. You will learn how automation affects technical hiring, why networking still matters, and how resilience and motivation play a critical role in finding the right opportunity.

This episode features Adam Klug, a managing director at a recruiting firm who shares how job seekers can stay resilient and open minded in an uncertain and highly automated hiring market. You will learn why exploring adjacent roles increases your chances of getting hired, how conversations can lead to unexpected opportunities, and why persistence and curiosity matter more than perfect applications.

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This special episode features Bill Wednieski, managing director at The Headhunters, LLC, who shares an honest recruiter’s perspective on today’s job market. You will learn why ghosting has become so common, how mismatched applications affect both candidates and employers, and what recruiters and companies can do to bring more transparency, communication, and respect back into the hiring process. Bill also explains how hidden hiring needs influence decisions, why networking matters more than sending resumes, and how job seekers can stand out when competition is high and the odds feel stacked.

This episode features Tylar Masters, a brand creative leader who opens up about the emotional and personal challenges of job searching in today’s AI driven hiring landscape. You will learn how job searching can feel deeply personal yet mechanical, why confidence and authenticity are difficult to maintain, and how networking, mental health awareness, and redefining success can help job seekers stay grounded and hopeful during periods of uncertainty.

In this episode, Anthony Rizzo shares a first-hand look at how automated hiring systems and AI-driven screening tools are shaping—and often blocking—the modern job search. You’ll hear what it feels like to apply to algorithmic black holes, why rejection emails at odd hours signal deeper problems, and how adaptability, real conversations, and human judgment still matter more than perfect keyword matches. This episode offers practical insight for job seekers trying to stay motivated and for recruiters who want to fix what’s broken in hiring.

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00:05 – Introduction to ghosted job searches

00:40 – Types of roles being targeted

01:10 – How AI is hurting the job search

02:20 – Automated rejections and canceled roles

02:50 – Being adaptable as a career advantage

03:20 – Working outside traditional schedules

03:45 – Advice to recruiters and hiring managers

04:15 – Rethinking fit and candidate evaluation

04:45 – Finding hope during long job searches

05:15 – Making hiring human again

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This episode features Chris Fairley, founder and CEO of Vetano, who explains how video based hiring and skill verification can replace traditional resumes and improve the candidate experience. You will learn why the current hiring system is broken, how resumes fail to show real ability, and how video profiles allow employers to see actual skills so hiring becomes more human, accurate, and efficient.

This episode features Albert Holaso, a user experience designer from Portugal who shares how he navigated a year long job search after being laid off and how AI changed the way his applications were evaluated. You will learn how automation affects creative professionals, why adaptability and self confidence matter more than ever, and how Albert made the decision to pivot from UX design toward building his own artistic brand in a rapidly changing job market.