Networking at fintech conferences is proving more effective than online job applications as AI overwhelms traditional hiring processes, according to Work in Fintech AI Summit organiser Matthew Cheung. The London-based summit has helped 10 attendees secure full-time fintech positions and 65 land internships through face-to-face connections rather than digital applications.
LinkedIn processed approximately 14,200 job applications per minute in early 2026, up 58 percent from two years prior, while 39 percent of job seekers now use generative AI in applications according to Gartner. This flood of AI-generated applications evaluated by automated tracking systems has created what BMLL Technologies CEO Paul Humphrey describes as an unprecedented challenge for young professionals entering the workforce.
The summit targets 18-25 year-olds seeking direct access to fintech CEOs and founders, circumventing the bottleneck of applicant tracking systems and ghost job listings that plague mainstream platforms. The next event takes place Friday at NatWest Bishopsgate in London.
FXnCO Insight
Fintech firms struggling to identify genuine talent amid AI-saturated applicant pools should prioritise in-person recruitment events to discover candidates before competitors.
Source: Finance Magnates