MastaGAtomic's journey

I was recently laid off from my remote role after about 8 years in sales, SaaS, HR, and customer experience. Now, I'm stuck working a retail job and trying to find something local because I realized I prefer being around people rather than working remotely. However, I've encountered a frustrating trend in the job application process: almost half of the interviews I've had in the last two months started with a virtual agent screening. This is especially ironic since many of these roles are in HR, where you'd expect a human touch. I’ve been immediately rejected after these automated screenings, despite being fully qualified for the positions. There’s no feedback or contact afterward, just a generic rejection. It feels like these systems are designed to filter out candidates without any real consideration. I’m baffled by how companies can promote a culture of family and connection while relying on robots for initial screenings. I’m wondering how others are navigating this new landscape. Is it worth it to lie during these screenings to get a chance to speak with a human? I’m also curious about transitioning to a blue-collar job; I didn't expect that I'd be interviewing with robots just to make that shift. After working full-time since I was 16 and honing my people skills, it feels disheartening to be facing such obstacles now.