AI & Recruitment
AI is transforming the way we work, and in turn, is changing job applications. Getting help with a job application is nothing new, it’s long been common practice for candidates to get a friend or trustworthy colleague to check over their draft application before submitting. However, AI now means candidates can get help on applications anywhere at any time. Candidates can upload their CV and the job description of the role they are applying for and ask AI to write a supporting statement discussing how they meet all the criteria, they can even ask it to sprinkle in information like the school vision and values to add a personal touch.
Some hiring managers may prefer applications where every word was carefully thought of and written by the candidate, but as long as the information is truthful, the points made in the supporting statement around their experience still stand, they simply had help analysing the job description.
However, a perfect AI created job application can only help the candidate to go as far as the shortlisting process – the in-person interview and any assessment tasks will show the true skillset of the candidate. It is key to follow a robust shortlisting process and not to discredit candidates purely on suspecting if AI was used to help write their application.
AI can be helpful for:
- Inclusion – neurodiverse candidates or those who may have English as an additional language.
- Time Efficiency – Your ideal candidate may have only seen your role last minute, eager to submit a strong application they may have turned to AI to help them in a time crunch.
Spotting AI:
An application created by the use of AI without any editing may have repetitive language / phrases, American grammar, vague text without any examples or points relating to specific roles or locations.
However, it can be very tricky to spot an AI application, candidates can upload documents and give detailed prompts that may make the use of AI undetectable.
How AI can impact your recruitment process:
Robust shortlisting process: It is key to ensure that applications are not swayed by personal opinions or first impressions, a long seemingly well written personal statement may appear more appealing than a shorter more factual one, but it is key to focus on crucial areas such as experience, achievements, qualifications, and skills. These areas are the heart of what an application is all about, eloquent wording can only go so far.
Application form declaration: Most applications will ask candidates to confirm the information submitted is accurate. Some applications may ask candidates to declare if they have used AI as part of their application, however the ability to be verify this is difficult.
Checking information: As with any application, employment gaps and inconsistences should be discussed with the candidate.
It is crucial to follow safer recruitment practices to ensure references are accurate and from a verified source to ensure the employment history is true and to gain character information on the candidate. An online search can also provide additional information that may not have been disclosed by the candidate or may not have been known by the referee.
- The importance of skill-based tasks: A well written application can’t make up for demonstrating skill in person. Including sessions such as observed lessons or competency tasks in addition to a formal interview allow the candidate to showcase their skills. This is beneficial regardless of AI, as sometimes a formal interview isn’t always a true reflection, a normally bubbly, warm, friendly candidate can easily be cold and stern if they find formal interviews to be nerve-wracking.
In summary, the use of AI by candidates should not be viewed as an outright negative, it is key to follow a robust structured shortlisting process and to incorporate competency-based activities into the assessment event to ensure that skill is witness first hand. AI can be a wonderful tool, used for aiding accessibility and can help candidates meet the application deadline, however extra consideration should occur to ensure that the applications are grounded in truth and are not overly embellished.