I am sorry that I have to agree with this. The HR filter is a hurdle that can be engineered around (I am not arguing that it should be, but hey, if they erect

I am sorry that I have to agree with this. The HR filter is a hurdle that can be engineered around (I am not arguing that it should be, but hey, if they erect technological measures in the interests of efficiency of filter process, they should be focusing on the individuals bright enough to learn about this, take advantage of it). Once you understand how resumes are filtered/scored, you can adapt your submission to this. I am not saying to do this. I am saying, given the technological filter barriers that have been erected between applicant looking at a post and the real hiring manager, yeah, it is a reasonable response. In terms of a search, I went through this recently. I activated my network (with a few well placed emails) as well as carefully submitting applications to various companies. My response rate to the latter was about 40%, including 2 solid offers. My response rate to the former was 100%, including 1 solid offer that route, 2 likely offers (had I continued). I ended the process by selecting the offer that I thought would be best for me. I had additional people I knew calling to recruit me for up to a month past this. Not bad for an older-than-40-ish person. My advice is quite simply, build your network. Make sure people know you, and know what you are capable of. Make sure your history is documented. Update your linkedin. Keep your skills current (ex-Fortran programmer here, so really ... current), show public code contributions. Play with relevant things so you can talk intelligently about them. What bothered me were the "technical" interviews I ran through with some of the prospects, some of whom spent inordinate amounts of time on things unrelated to the tasks at hand. This is just like sales, you are looking for a fit. And if someone is looking at you for a particular role and asking you deep (meaningless in context) questions about things outside of this role ... this should be a huge signal or red flag to you. Just like with a sales call or meeting, you need to be able to understand when something goes sideways. Don't get emotionally invested in this. You are selling yourself (your time anyway), and you have to hustle to make it happen.