Now that I think about it, I've only had two situations in my ~15 year career where I was able to get a job via a "cold application". One of them was the worst employement experience of my life. The other one was great.

There was some level of "getting my foot in the door" with all my other jobs. Internship after my Masters program, meeting someone at an non-work event and getting hired via former employers/colleagues.

That really sucks for your friends. I've been there and it really kills motivation.

I keep thinking of that manager that sent in a perfect resume for the job he posted, because HR denied all applicants, and it proved that HR was using some bogus AI or algorithmic filter to auto deny resumes.

But it doesn't have to be AI. A former colleague of mine (who had both on the factory floor experience , all the way up the ladder over decades, and an MBA) was looking for a high level job and took 6 months of bogus interviews where HR keeps having you come back only to deny it at the end. For same role some said Overqualified and some HR said not enough experience. Lol pick one.

Yep. When I got laid off last year my goal was 10 applications a day.

Most resulted in no response. Of those who did respond, most were boilerplate rejection emails.