AI and ChatGPT has led to significant automation in the recruitment process but the arms race between hiring managers and applicants has led to a stalemate.

Corporate institutions in Consulting, Financial Services, and Legal have been using AI for years to filter through thousands of applicants. However, candidates have caught up and have found ways to bypass this initial CV screening, using keywords and phrases which has become common in CV writing as a whole.

This soulless and surface level CV writing style has been exacerbated since AI has become easily accessible to candidates. ChatGPT is able to draw up a professional CV in seconds, knowing exactly what Hiring Managers and Recruiters are looking for.

In fact, a 2023 study revealed that over 78% of job seekers in the U.S. use some form of automation in their CV writing process, and similar trends are observed in the UK. While these AI-generated CVs might look flawless on paper, they often lack depth, failing to accurately reflect a candidate’s true experience and skills. This rise of AI-generated applications presents a unique challenge for employers trying to sift through large volumes of candidates to identify the most qualified individuals.

Indeed, in the UK, 64% of employers reported difficulty differentiating between genuinely skilled candidates and those who simply crafted their CV to match keywords, according to a 2023 survey.

Engaging with Candidates: Beyond What’s Written

At Elevate, we prioritise personal engagement with each candidate to get beyond what’s on paper. This is where our expertise comes into play. We engage with candidates directly, asking probing questions designed to uncover their real-world experience, how they’ve applied their skills, and how they approach challenges in a dynamic, fast-paced industry. By focusing on these deeper conversations, we help our clients identify talent that truly meets their needs, not just applicants who know how to game the system.

For instance, in the tech sector—where skills like coding, data analysis, and software development are crucial—automated CVs might indicate proficiency in multiple programming languages, but without digging deeper, it’s impossible to assess a candidate’s hands-on experience or ability to troubleshoot complex problems.

The Human Element: Probing for Depth

We take the time to understand a candidate’s genuine capabilities through targeted questioning, technical tests, and behavioural interviews. These strategies enable us to look beyond surface-level information and get to the core of what a candidate can actually deliver. By asking questions about past projects, real-life problem-solving scenarios, and specific technical challenges they’ve faced, we gain a clearer picture of their expertise, something that no AI tool or keyword can truly capture.

This human element is essential in industries where hands-on experience and nuanced problem-solving matter most. According to a 2022 survey by LinkedIn, 75% of recruiters believe that personal engagement is the best way to assess a candidate’s fit for a role, especially when it comes to understanding soft skills like collaboration, leadership, and adaptability—qualities that rarely shine through in AI-generated CVs.

A Smarter Way to Hire

In a hiring landscape that’s becoming increasingly automated, the need for human insight has never been greater. We don’t rely solely on what’s written; we get to the heart of a candidate’s true capabilities. By engaging directly with applicants and asking the right questions, we help our clients make smarter hiring decisions. In both the U.S. and UK, where the tech industry faces a skills shortage and high competition for top talent, this approach ensures that you’re not just hiring someone who looks good on paper—you’re hiring someone who will make a real, lasting impact on your business.