Is it OK for jobseekers or employers to use AI?

Would you use AI to assist you with crafting a CV or cover letter? Or during an online assessment or video interview for a position? Many graduates and employers are turning to this technology, but it raises ethical questions about where to draw the line between acceptable and unethical use. Tom, a 22-year-old geography graduate, applied for over 200 jobs before securing a role as a restaurant manager.

He found the process exhausting and demoralising, not receiving responses from most employers. Tom believes he wouldn't have succeeded without some help from AI, particularly for cover letters and CVs, and to find the right buzzwords for early-stage screening. However, he drew the line at using AI in assessments or interviews. Some employers are becoming more accepting of candidates using AI during recruitment, particularly for writing cover letters or CVs and completing online application questions.

However, there has been a rise in AI misconduct, with 92% of employers encountering or suspecting it in the selection process. This includes using AI as a real-time assistant during video interviews or to complete online assessments. The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) found that some employers even resort to "spray and pray," sending out multiple applications at once.

EDF, an energy company, closed its graduate recruitment scheme early due to an overwhelming number of applications, attributing part of the surge to AI being used more liberally in the actual selection process. EDF now provides guidance on the appropriate use of AI in job applications and aims to make its recruitment process as AI-proof as possible.

While AI job applications may not doom graduates, they present a moral dilemma for employers and employees, who must balance authenticity and personality with the need to stand out in a competitive job market.