Study Finds Major Gaps in Fortune 500 Hiring Sites
Nearly 90% of Fortune 500 company career sites fail to suggest related job openings based on a candidate’s current job title and skills. This highlights a significant lack of personalization in hiring processes that job seekers increasingly expect.
According to Phenom’s ninth-annual State of Candidate Experience: 2025 Benchmarks Report, 87% of these companies do not use AI or automation to customize their career sites effectively. Meanwhile, 47% of American adults aged 18-34 say career sites should learn their job preferences just like social media platforms learn content preferences.
Where Hiring Sites Are Falling Short
- 88% of Fortune 500 career sites did not suggest relevant job openings based on current job titles and skills.
- 87% failed to use AI or automation for hyper-personalization.
- 83% lacked chatbots that provide job recommendations.
- 83% did not show recently viewed jobs to candidates.
- 76% did not detect candidates' locations to suggest nearby jobs automatically.
- 74% did not clearly present the employer value proposition throughout the candidate journey.
- 73% lacked relevant, high-quality content that effectively conveys the employer brand.
Areas Where Career Sites Perform Well
- 96% provide well-written job descriptions with at least three clear responsibilities and qualifications.
- 91% allow resume and cover letter uploads from mobile devices.
- 82% offer a simple mobile application process of three steps or fewer.
Recommendations to Improve the Candidate Journey
Phenom offers clear steps companies can take to enhance candidate experiences and increase hiring success:
- Deliver industry and job-specific personalization: Generic career sites slow candidates down. Tailoring content and job opportunities to a candidate’s skills and preferences removes friction and saves time.
- Build a skills-forward career site: Candidates often look for roles that match transferable skills, not just job titles. Career sites should showcase skills prominently and connect talent with opportunities based on their capabilities.
- Invest in conversational AI and automation: AI-powered chatbots can provide 24/7 support, answer questions, recommend jobs, conduct preliminary screenings, and help schedule interviews, boosting efficiency and candidate satisfaction.
“There’s a clear divide between companies experimenting with AI and those using it to accelerate hiring and improve candidate engagement through personalization,” the report notes. It adds that AI-powered recruitment can automate up to 90% of hiring workflows while enhancing the candidate experience. Companies ignoring this shift risk losing relevance in a market where speed and efficiency matter.
Study Methodology
The analysis covered Fortune 500 career sites across 14 industries, evaluating each site’s performance in attracting, engaging, and converting candidates. It also assessed the use of AI and automation tools such as chatbots, personalized content, automated communications, intelligent search, and candidate scoring.
Phenom’s audit of digital candidate experiences was conducted from October 2024 to March 2025. The Harris Poll survey, commissioned by Phenom, gathered data online from 2,055 U.S. adults aged 18 and older in May 2025.
For HR professionals aiming to keep pace with hiring technology trends, exploring AI-powered recruitment tools and training can provide a competitive edge. Resources like Complete AI Training’s latest AI courses offer practical guidance on integrating AI in talent acquisition.
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