AI Is Killing the Traditional Résumé – Here’s Why
▼ Summary
– LinkedIn is processing 11,000 job applications per minute, a 45% increase from last year, due to AI-generated submissions overwhelming employers.
– The hiring process is now plagued by “hiring slop,” with AI-crafted résumés and bot-submitted applications creating a chaotic bot-versus-bot arms race.
– An HR consultant received over 1,200 applications for a single remote role, forcing her to remove the job posting and spend months sorting through submissions.
– Generative AI tools, initially used to assist job seekers, have evolved into a systemic disruption, making it harder to identify qualified candidates.
– Some job seekers use paid AI agents to autonomously apply for jobs, leading to suspiciously similar résumés and further complicating recruiter efforts.
The traditional résumé is facing extinction as AI reshapes hiring processes with unprecedented speed. Employers now grapple with an avalanche of automated applications, with platforms like LinkedIn handling thousands of submissions every minute, a staggering 45% increase from the previous year. This surge has turned recruitment into a battlefield where AI-generated content floods systems, making it harder than ever to spot genuine talent.
What some call “hiring slop”, the deluge of generic, AI-polished résumés, has overwhelmed HR teams. The rise of ChatGPT and similar tools means job seekers can effortlessly tailor applications to match keywords, while recruiters struggle to separate real candidates from algorithmically optimized submissions. The result? A frustrating cycle where both sides deploy increasingly advanced AI, turning hiring into a bot-versus-bot arms race.
One HR consultant, buried under 1,200 applications for a single remote position, had to pull the job posting entirely, and still hadn’t finished reviewing submissions months later. Her experience isn’t isolated. Since generative AI went mainstream in 2022, companies initially embraced it to streamline applications. Now, the technology has backfired, clogging pipelines with near-identical résumés that lack authenticity.
The problem has escalated as job seekers turn to AI agents that scout openings and submit applications automatically. Recruiters report spotting eerily similar profiles, making it tough to identify truly qualified candidates. The convenience of automation has inadvertently dehumanized hiring, leaving employers questioning whether they’re evaluating people or algorithms.
As AI continues to dominate recruitment, the very purpose of a résumé, to showcase individual skills and experience, is fading. The challenge now lies in restoring balance, ensuring technology enhances rather than replaces human judgment in the hiring process.
(Source: Ars Technica)
