Leda Stawnychko of Mount Royal University and Mehnaz Rafi of the University of Calgary discuss what is true and false about searching for a job in 2026.
Job searching has never been more accessible – or more confusing. Platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed and employer career pages let candidates submit applications with just a few clicks. What happens after they click ‘submit’, however, has become fertile ground for misinformation.
Social media is filled with ‘career influencers’, resume writers, recruiters and companies promising insider knowledge of how hiring really works. Much of this advice focuses on misinformed claims about applicant-tracking systems (ATS) and artificial intelligence.
These services profit from jobseekers’ uncertainty and convincing people they need specialised services, tools and products to ‘beat’ the ATS and secure interviews.
The result is that many job seekers spend time and money following advice that has no basis in evidence. Here are four common myths about the job application process and what the research actually says.
