One job ad, 1000 applicants: How do you stand out in a world of AI jobhunters?
Jobhunters using AI to help with their applications are flooding listings, leaving some recruiters sifting through thousands of potential hires for each position advertised.
Jobseekers are leveraging artificial intelligence to construct their job applications, leading to a flood of submissions that overwhelm recruiters. David Cunningham, chief executive of Squirrel, has observed a massive influx of applications, with one instance receiving over 1,000 responses. AI proves useful in tailoring CVs and crafting cover letters, but recruiters find these generated materials lacking authenticity.
Paula O Kane, a human resources expert, suggests that candidates must stand out by keeping their cover letters concise and emphasizing their unique skills, attributes, and personality. Employers are particularly concerned about false negatives, meaning rejecting qualified candidates, rather than false positives. Hayley Pickard, managing director of Fortitude Group, notes that AI-generated applications often lack genuine evidence of skills and experience.
While AI can be beneficial for editing and improving writing, candidates should use it to enhance their own abilities, not replace them. Recruiters must focus on verifying applicants' claims with specific examples and engaging in personal, face-to-face interviews to separate genuine candidates from those relying solely on AI-generated content.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
