AI is upending the hiring process

Need a new job? Just use AI to polish up your résumé, submit an application to an AI-powered tracking system, interview with an AI agent, and then pass an AI background check.

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Many career advisors and universities are encouraging job seekers to use AI to craft their résumés and cover letters. But then recruiters have to figure out whether the candidate is a good communicator or just good at using AI. And while 60% of hiring managers say they can identify AI-generated applications, only about 25% actually can, according to a Software Finder survey.

AI also makes it easier to apply for jobs, turning recruiters’ offices into a ball pit of applications. According to hiring software platform Greenhouse:

• In Q1 2022, the average job opening drew 89 applications.
• Three years later, each opening attracted 243 hopefuls.

To keep up, 90% of US employers use AI screening, according to a Stanford University study. While those tools help weed out unqualified candidates, they also turn away talented prospects.

A hire calling: If you’re lucky enough to make it through the application gauntlet, it’s time to interview. But don’t bother practicing a firm handshake just yet. Nearly two-thirds of US job seekers say they’ve been interviewed by an AI bot, per Greenhouse.

Passing inspection: If you get past the interview process, there’s still one more AI hurdle to clear—an exhaustive digital background check that pulls your information from dozens of different places. So, if you’ve ever been in trouble with the law, posted something questionable on social media, or experimented with a goatee in college, there’s a good chance AI will find out and let your employer know.—BC