Employers Raise Concerns Over Growing Use of AI in Job Applications

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) by job candidates is surging, according to British bosses, who are increasingly concerned they are no longer getting a true picture of the person they are hiring.

The survey of 928 UK managers, conducted by the Chartered Management Institute, found that AI is moving beyond written applications and into the interview stage, with nearly three in five hiring managers (58%) saying they have noticed or suspected a candidate using AI during online job interviews.

Nine in ten hiring managers (90%) say candidates are using AI to help write their CVs or cover letters, up from 79% in November 2024.

Managers are far less comfortable with AI being used in online interviews, with almost all (98%) identifying at least one negative reaction. More than half (56%) say it feels inappropriate, 50% worry a candidate may be misrepresenting their skills or experience, and the same proportion say it makes them less confident in the candidate’s overall ability.

Almost half (46%) say suspected AI use during a virtual interview raises questions about whether a candidate can work independently, while one in five (20%) regard it as dishonest, suggesting many employers will return to ‘in person’ interviews to ensure they build a true picture of a candidate.

Even where managers are open to candidates using AI for cover letters or CVs, many remain concerned that it can obscure rather than reveal a person’s abilities, with more than half (54%) saying their initial reaction is that they are not getting a true sense of the candidate and a similar figure (49%) worrying that the candidate may be misrepresenting their skills or experience.

The research also shows strong support for keeping humans at the centre of hiring decisions, with 92% of managers saying AI should support rather than replace human judgement, 91% saying candidates should be told when AI is being used by an employer in the recruitment process, and 91% saying employers should regularly check that AI systems produce fair outcomes for different candidates.

Petra Wilton, Director of Policy at the Chartered Management Institute, said:

“Are we interviewing a person or ChatGPT? AI can be a brilliant tool, helping people work faster and make better use of information, but the recruitment process is one of the few chances an employer has to really see and understand the person they might be hiring.

“Candidates, especially those who are early in their career, need to think about how to build their own communication and critical thinking skills so that AI reliance does not undermine their chances of landing the job.

“Today’s employers are looking for people who understand – and can demonstrate – what responsible AI use in the workplace looks like and candidates need to be able to clearly tell that story about themselves in job interviews. Managers’ responsibility is to make sure AI use in recruitment on their end is both fair and transparent.”