When boomers give you their shitty career advice, realize, what they are really telling you is stop doing the same thing as everyone else.
In their day, an applicant would show up in person, politely ask if they were hiring, fill out an application, kiss the managers ass.
If they wanted to get noticed they had to make a good impression. Firm handshake, making a case verbally for why they should be hired.
We know that's not how it works these days. But the advice has a few grains of truth. What they are really saying is be disruptive. Be different. Be annoying. Pink resumes, LinkedIn stalking, cold calling, heck, if you really want the job, door dash them a burrito.
It's possible that someday job hunting won't suck but I doubt it. Enjoy this short period where the applicants hold the power. As a 39 year old, it's a first for me.