The Hiring App We Actually Need: 12 Experts Help Design a More Seamless Way to Hire

Hiring software has become more complicated rather than easier. Employers now deal with applicant tracking systems, job boards, assessments, calendars, emails, video interviews, background checks, spreadsheets, and internal messaging platforms. The amount of data flowing through these systems continues to grow. Greenhouse's 2026 hiring benchmark analyzed data from over 6,000 companies and more than 640 million applications between 2022 and 2025.

The study revealed that recruiting teams are managing twice as many applications with half as many recruiters compared to previous years. Candidates also face challenges in the process, with Greenhouse's workforce research documenting widespread frustration related to job-search transparency, application experiences, and discrepancies between job advertisements and the actual hiring process. To address these issues, a group of experts has proposed a more seamless hiring solution.

The proposed hiring app would operate as an intelligent hiring workspace, integrating various aspects of the hiring process into one continuous workflow. It would begin by defining the job requirements instead of starting with the résumé. The system would require hiring managers to outline the role's objective, expected results, essential competencies, reporting structure, salary range, decision-makers, interview stages, and hiring deadline.

This defined set of requirements, referred to as the Hiring Charter, would follow the position through all stages of the hiring process, ensuring everyone involved starts with the same definition of success.

To compare candidates fairly, the app would transform résumés into standardized candidate profiles, containing skills, relevant experience, measurable accomplishments, industry exposure, management experience, certifications, portfolio evidence, compensation expectations, location requirements, and availability. While the original résumé would remain accessible, the structured profile would provide a consistent basis for comparison.

The hiring process would focus on demonstrating skills rather than relying solely on résumé information.

A Skills Passport would be an integral part of the platform, offering standardized skill modules for different professions. Candidates would complete skill assessments such as SEO diagnostic tasks for search marketers, editing weak landing pages for copywriters, responding to simulated prospects for salespeople, diagnosing faulty code for developers, and prioritizing tasks within troubled projects for project managers.

These assessments would supplement résumé information, providing employers with additional insights beyond credentials, job titles, school names, and former employers.

Finally, candidates would have a real-time application dashboard to track their progress throughout the hiring process. This feature would enhance transparency and help candidates stay informed about their application status, further streamlining the hiring experience.