Who watches the watchmen: When HR and applicants use the same tools (AI)

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Or "Who watches the watchmen?" This thought crossed my mind when I read the Financial Times article, and even more so when I watched Raj Sidhu's video about the article. He focused on the comments section, where many highlighted the irony of Human Resources being impacted by the use of AI by applicants.

Thousands of companies and recruiters use AI to sift through countless CVs. We understand that it would be nearly impossible for HR teams to manually review thousands of CVs and still hire efficiently. However, the problem is that ATS tools are becoming increasingly complex, leading to talented candidates being dismissed without even getting a chance.

In this scenario, it’s no surprise that people would use AI against (or in favor of) other AI, employing tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to create CVs specifically tailored to pass ATS filters. Many are frustrated with being automatically rejected, unable to showcase their value past the initial barrier.

Another point that stood out to me was a comment Sidhu mentioned about influencers providing tips to bypass ATS tools. Many of these influencers, some of whom are former recruiters, offer similar or identical advice. Consequently, companies are receiving nearly identical CVs, whether AI-generated or not. Moreover, job descriptions are often so similar that it's hard to believe they were created by someone with a genuine understanding of the team's needs.

It seems that those responsible for setting the standards are acting in ways that mirror the very behavior they discourage in applicants. This could be seen as hypocritical, but it's more than that: one side is striving to stay productive and fill roles quickly because it's necessary for their job security, while the other side is doing everything they can to secure a job as soon as possible because the bills keep coming.

The fact that both sides are trying their best to keep up with the market’s demands gives the impression that something is fundamentally wrong. This cat-and-mouse game is detrimental to both sides, increasing desperation for both hiring and getting hired.

The text was also published on my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tatianecampospimentaleal_this-article-is-causing-a-stir-jobhunters-activity-7231346165097652225-A_Kr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Source: SIDHU, R. This Article is Causing a Stir - "Jobhunters flood recruiters with AI-generated CVs" - Let's Talk... Available at: https://youtu.be/xNhx-wEJUOs?si=0h6-ldBZUMNpuoEn. Accessed in: 19 aug. 2024.