AI complicates job searches as 75% of UK applicants miss review rights

The Reject the Rejections campaign in the UK is urging employers to audit AI recruitment systems and explain how they operate to applicants.

A Censuswide survey of 2,000 workers who had applied for at least one job in the previous 24 months found that 75% were unaware they could challenge an automated rejection and request human review.

Candidates alter CVs over rejection fears

The research found that 70% of ethnically diverse jobseekers had concealed or changed details such as their country of origin, religion or name. The figure was 57% among white candidates.

Sheeraz Gulsher, CEO of London-based non-profit People Like Us, described the situation as an “AI war”. He said candidates were using AI to strengthen applications while employers faced large volumes of submissions.

Gulsher called on companies to audit automated systems, publish the results and obtain independent assessments. He cited Information Commissioner’s Office guidance saying that, in some cases, people affected by automated decisions can request human review.

Automatic rejections and limited evidence

Business consultant Vivi, from Lewisham, said she applied for many jobs after being made redundant before starting her own company. Hema, a 49-year-old HR professional from Surrey, tracked more than 100 applications; many were rejected automatically within 24 to 36 hours.

About 90 of 425 recruiters surveyed by CV-Library said they used AI at the CV-screening stage. A company representative said applicants often overestimate how widely it is used, but that the perception is prompting more CVs to look alike.

Stanford researchers analysed four million applications processed by one AI hiring tool during the four years to December 2022. Their analysis found more repeated rejections for some candidates and lower recommendation rates for black and Asian applicants, but the researchers said education, immigration status and other factors could also have influenced the results.

Workday faces US legal claims

Workday is facing US legal claims alleging that its tools discriminated against applicants. The case is ongoing. Workday denies the allegations and says its products support rather than replace human judgement.

Other systems work differently. Sapia AI founder Barb Hyman said her company grades candidates through text-based chat interviews without using demographic information or whether they were previously hired. Hyman said employers should tell candidates what is measured and how answers are scored, while providing feedback.