Experts warn AI is impacting job-hunting and recruitment process

Applying for jobs has become increasingly harder in recent years and recent advances in technology mean searching for a new role has added complexities.

AI can make it easier for an applicant to apply for more jobs and to tailor their CV and covering letter for the role.

But that can mean more people vying for the same jobs, and that has led to businesses using AI themselves to filter through the applications they receive.

In some cases, firms have even been using AI generated ‘avatars’ to interview candidates on video calls.

That sort of practice is more common in the United States and Europe but could become more prominent in the UK.

‘It’s having a profound impact’

Recruitment consultant Stephanie Halliday has worked in the sector for more than 20 years.

She told STV News: “Nothing has been quite as profound as the introduction of AI. What we’re seeing a lot of is AI being used for screening processes.

“It’s quite tricky because in the initial stages of process, you could be trying to satisfy an AI screening process or a human process.

“You don’t always necessarily know which, and it’s quite hard to try to speak to both at the same time.”

The use of AI when sifting through applications is more commonly seen in background processes, often without the knowledge of those applying.

‘It’s been an eye-opener’

That’s a conundrum Rhona Lawson knows well. She was made redundant from her role in marketing at the beginning of the year.

What followed was months of applications and putting in the hard yards trying to find her next job.

“I realised quite quickly that the job market had changed,” she said. “It’s been an eye-opener.

“In the past I’d maybe secured interviews within a month or so, whereas that wasn’t happening. It’s a tougher market than it’s been in the past.

“There’s quite a lot of remote roles post-Covid. That sounds great because there’s more remote roles, but it also means there’s a lot more people applying.”

Rhona said she’d spend “a day on an application” but then would “not hear anything.”

Rhona Lawson said applying for jobs in the age of AI has been 'an eye-opener' — Rhona Lawson said applying for jobs in the age of AI has been ‘an eye-opener’ STV News

It wasn’t until she then started using AI herself to put together her applications, as suggested by recruiters, that Rhona started to have more success in her hunt.

Rhona has now finally secured a new job which she described as a “such a great feeling” but it was clear from her experience that the way the market works has changed significantly since she had last been applying for roles.

“Once I started to match keywords and score a CV, I actually found I got more interviews quite quickly after making that shift. I also spoke to people I knew, ex-colleagues, people you’ve come across in business. All that really helped as well.”

Employers say using artificial intelligence when sorting through applicants can be useful for a variety of reasons.

The number of people applying can be at such a size that the task of putting together a shortlist can be too arduous for a human.

But AI can also more successfully spot when someone has used technology to such an extent themselves, that their application or CV may not be an accurate representation of their skills.

‘We’re seeing a lot more embellishment’

The number of unemployed people per vacancy more than doubling in the last three years, according to ONS STV News

Graeme Gordon is group CEO at Converge Solutions Group, a firm who say they do use AI in the hiring process.

He said: “We know the type of person we want, we know the skills we are looking for.

“And we use AI to help us with that job description so we get good standardisation across the business.”

But Graeme says they have seen a rise in people either telling fibs or even making things up when they apply.

He continued: “We are seeing a lot more embellishment.

“We’re all for using AI for making yourself look and sound better – providing it’s a real intangible when it comes to the role and the interview process.”

The evolution of the job market and AI isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon, for some it can be unnerving and hard to get to grips with.

Stephanie says her advice is to “always try and find the human in the process.”

“If you are finding that you are in multiple processes that are clearly being managed autonomously by technology, find the human in the process and make the connection.”