- Candidates are increasingly backing away from AI interviews
- Greenhouse survey shows workers are happy to walk away if they see AI being used
- Employers need to be more open and honest about the tools they use
New research has revealed how many companies are now using artificial intelligence in job interviews, but often fail to declare the fact that the technology is being used – leading to candidates increasingly opting to walk away.
A study by Greenhouse, which surveyed almost 3,000 candidates in the UK, found that half (47%) of UK job seekers have now been interviewed by an AI as part of the recruitment process.
But the vast majority of candidates (82%) say they were never told in advance that AI would be evaluating them, and one in four (24%) said they only found out once the interview had started.
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AI interviews are not for us
All this dishonesty has led to candidates increasingly rejecting companies that use AI in their interviews – with Greenhouse finding that 30% of UK candidates said they have already walked away from a hiring process because it included an AI interview, and a further 19% say they would.
The biggest triggers for UK candidates walking away from the process include: pre-recorded video interviews scored by AI without human presence (25%), companies failing to disclose how AI would be used (24%) and AI monitoring during the process (24%).
More than one in four (27%) also reported feeling some form of age bias from AI evaluations, with 17% flagging race or ethnicity bias.
“Most artificial intelligence in employment today makes a bad system worse: more applications, less signal and less transparency,” said Daniel Chait, CEO and co-founder of Greenhouse.
Overall, the survey found that only one in 10 candidates said employers had clear AI policies – despite nearly two-thirds (59%) believing such disclosure should be a legal requirement.
However, this does not always lead to general resistance when it comes to using AI in the hiring process – in fact, only 19% of respondents said they want less AI in hiring.
Many called for greater railings, such as companies being at the forefront of their use (40%), providing a clear explanation of what AI is measuring (36%), and the ability to request a human interview instead (45%).
“… The process AI is being built on top of was already broken,” Chait added. “No one likes writing resumes and filling out clumsy job applications. Candidates want a better way to be seen, and companies want a better way to find the right people. A 15-minute conversation with an AI where a candidate can show who they are is a better front door than a keyword-filled resume. It’s not going to come from layering AI to come from a better process that breaks.”
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