Hiring Is Stuck in an AI Doom Loop
Employers are being urged to adopt a more human hiring process as candidates increasingly turn to AI tools to stand out. A recent poll by Greenhouse, surveying job seekers in the US, UK, and Ireland, revealed that nearly 70% of candidates find the job market extremely or very competitive. Only 7% believe the market favors candidates.
Interestingly, around 25% of respondents said the use of AI in recruitment has made it harder to differentiate themselves. To keep up, jobseekers are leveraging AI in various ways during their application process.
How Jobseekers Use AI in the Hiring Process
- Interview preparation (45%)
- Analyzing job postings to identify key skills (43%)
- Generating work samples or portfolios (28%)
- Assisting with responses during technical interviews (24%)
- Drafting personalized connection messages (22%)
- Applying for jobs on their behalf (22%)
- Salary negotiation and compensation evaluation (18%)
- Responding to take-home assignments (18%)
- Helping respond to questions during live interviews (17%)
Daniel Chait, CEO and Co-founder of Greenhouse, summed it up plainly: "Hiring is stuck in an AI doom loop." He emphasizes the need for a hiring process that reduces friction and lets candidates show their true selves. The focus should be on creating a more human, three-dimensional process that highlights skills and guides job search efforts effectively.
Discrimination Remains a Barrier
The report also highlights ongoing discrimination during hiring. Approximately half of jobseekers across the US (53%), UK (49%), and Ireland (49%) say they experience bias in recruitment.
This bias leads many candidates to alter their applications. At least half have removed older work experience from their CVs, and some from historically underrepresented groups have changed names to sound less ethnic.
Paaras Parker, Chief People Officer at Greenhouse, warns that bias "decides who gets seen and who is overlooked." This not only lets qualified candidates slip through the cracks but also damages trust and a company’s reputation. Parker stresses that transparency, clear communication, and fairness are essential—and they offer employers a competitive edge.
For HR professionals, the takeaway is clear: refining hiring processes to be more human and fair is critical. Understanding how candidates use AI and addressing discrimination head-on can improve recruitment outcomes significantly.
To explore practical ways to integrate AI ethically and effectively in recruitment, consider checking resources on AI training and courses at Complete AI Training.
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