I’m a Cardiff University MA student who’s applied to 400 jobs – I constantly get ghosted

Karyna Lohvynenko, a 21-year-old postgraduate student, is completing her Master’s in governance at Cardiff University.

While she once dreamed to become president of her native country, Ukraine, her ambition has been curbed as her applications for positions in business, politics, and as an entry-level barista have been ghosted by employers.

Ghosting is a popular term in the dating scene, meaning to suddenly end communication with someone. However, Michael Jones, a recruitment consultant, believes it is on the rise for job applicants.

“If I apply to around 70 jobs per week and only hear back from three, the rest is complete silence – not even a rejection email,”  Karyna told the BBC.

“That uncertainty is worse than rejection… it feels like a void. Like your application disappears before anyone even sees it. The ghosting from employers creates confusion, anxiety, and makes the whole process feel dehumanising.”

After graduating from Cardiff Met with a degree in business and management, alongside a law pathway, she is now completing her Master’s in governance at Cardiff University.

In addition to her work in academia, Karyna’s CV includes volunteering and business experience at the United Nations, in the first lady of Ukraine’s office, international policy work with both American and British councils, and as a King’s Trust ambassador.

“I completed everything expected from a graduate… experience alone doesn’t open doors,” she said.

Karyna had been accepted into six US universities with scholarships; however, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 resulted in her moving to Wales. Remembering she is not alone in her struggle, Karyna remains determined to find employment.

While at a jobs fair for Cardiff University, she recalled “seeing hundreds of students – many with strong backgrounds – asking for any job was overwhelming.”

“That’s when it felt truly distressing,” she explained.

Most Read

Ranked: All 24 Russell Group universities by how terrifying their financial deficits are

The Boys’ Karl Urban likes brutal post dragging season five as viewers say it ‘doesn’t make sense’

Eight years on, Chris Watts’ mistress reveals the chilling final text he ever sent her

Cardiff University

Since childhood, Karyna has been invested in politics, setting a goal to lead her home country of Ukraine. “That goal has never left me,” she said. But, for the moment, she is focused on securing an initial role into the workforce.

Since February, Karyna has been applying daily to typically 20 roles alongside her studies, work and operating a small business where she up-cycles vintage blazers. She has put her aspirations of her “dream job” to the side, now focused on securing any employment, despite being rejected from roles differing from business, politics and an entry-level barista.

Online platform LinkedIn reported the prominent competition for roles among the younger generation, with Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Aneesh Raman offering some advice on CVs to job seekers. Aneesh notes that AI literacy is important – knowing what it can aid, alongside focusing on your achievements, people skills, and not obsessing over long-term plans.

“I speak to graduates every week who’ve applied for hundreds of roles and are struggling to break through, and unfortunately, that’s [ghosting] become the norm rather than the exception,” said recruitment consultant Michael Jones.

“The reality is that entry-level roles are massively oversubscribed right now, and even strong graduates are getting lost in the volume.”

Michael notes that several applications don’t reach a human decision-maker. “When candidates say it feels like their CV disappears into a void, I completely understand that frustration as we see many applications never reaching a human,” he said.

“Not hearing back is incredibly disheartening, but in most cases it’s down to automated systems and sheer applicant numbers, not a lack of ability or effort.”

For more of the latest news, guides, gossip, and memes, follow The Cardiff Tab on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.