How AI Driven Efficiencies Are Affecting Talent Acquisition

From a recruiter’s perspective, AI is changing the hiring landscape, affecting both job seekers and recruiters alike. The role of AI in recruitment is expanding, and it brings both opportunities and challenges.

AI Usage by Job Seekers: A significant number of Canadian applicants (82%) are using AI tools to exaggerate or even lie about their skills on resumes, cover letters, or job applications. Common uses of AI include mass applying for jobs, answering interview questions, and completing test assignments.

AI Benefits for Job Seekers: Despite ethical concerns, many job seekers (48%) are using AI tools to their advantage—writing resumes, cover letters, and finding job openings. AI helps them apply to jobs faster, improving their chances of landing offers. AI also levels the playing field by helping applicants keep up with tech-savvy competitors.

Recruitment Benefits: Job seekers appreciate AI’s objectivity, with 62% believing AI is less biased than humans. Fifty-five percent of job seekers feel positively about AI in recruitment, and 50% think it boosts their chances of being hired.

Concerns: Despite the benefits, applicants still value human involvement in the hiring process. Many (59%) prefer applying to jobs where humans make final decisions. Younger, more educated applicants are especially wary of AI-dominated recruitment processes.

Transparency: Employers should be transparent when integrating AI into hiring and ensure that human interaction remains central to avoid alienating top talent.

This is an evolving landscape, and it's essential for businesses to stay informed about how best to integrate AI in ways that support both ethical practices and efficiency. Job seekers prefer knowing that people, not algorithms, make hiring decisions. Striking the right balance between leveraging AI and maintaining human interaction is key for both attracting top talent and building trust in the recruitment process.