A surge in applications driven by AI-generated resumes has employers looking for solutions to manage the avalanche
The surge of resumes generated by artificial intelligence is pushing some employers to consider placing a fee on job applications, according to a new report.
Findings from AI Resume Builder revealed that 21% of organisations have considered a pay-to-apply system.
Among them, 90% are at least somewhat likely to adopt it, revealed the poll, which covered 929 hiring managers.
The pay-to-apply scheme is a drastic measure for employers aiming to address the challenge of surging AI-generated resumes from jobseekers.
Previous insights found that many employers have been reverting to in-person interviews to find qualified talent amid a sea of applicants.
Others are conducting tests to assess candidates' ability with and without AI tools.
Rachel Serwetz, career adviser, believes that pay-to-apply schemes won't be the right solution while other measures are available.
"While a pay-to-apply system might drastically cut down on unqualified applicants, I don't believe it's the right solution in today's economy, especially with so many people unemployed," Serwetz said in a statement.
"Instead, companies could require a video application, a skills inventory or assessment, a series of short-form responses, or even a small project or case study. These approaches slow the flow of applications and raise candidate quality without charging people to apply or creating the perception that companies are profiting from job seekers."
Surge of AI-generated resumes
Employers' consideration of a pay-to-apply scheme comes amid the rising number of job applications with AI-generated resumes, according to the report.
One in five (20%) hiring managers said they typically receive 51 to 100 applications within the first 24 hours of posting a role.
Some said they receive 101 to 500 (19%), while others said they usually get more than 500 (7%) for a job opening.
The growth in job applications comes with the risk of receiving AI-generated resumes, where 20% of hiring managers believe half of the applications they receive are created with artificial intelligence.
Nearly 35% also estimate that between a quarter and half of the resumes they get are made with AI, while 18% believe AI-generated resumes make up as high as 51% of the applications they receive.
Are AI-generated resumes rejected?
Most hiring managers don't reject candidates' use of AI in their resume, according to the report. However, 54% of them believe that AI should only be used "a little" when writing resumes.
Another 20% said AI shouldn't be used much, while nine per cent don't think AI should be used for resumes at all.
This comes as 62% of hiring managers surveyed said AI-generated resumes often exaggerate qualifications, with 49% saying candidates frequently cannot back up these claims.
As a result, 37% of companies have fired multiple employees whose skills did not match their AI-inflated resumes, while 25% said they had terminated at least one.
Serwetz advised jobseekers to apply "honestly" for jobs as they seek to tailor their applications for job ads.
"Incorporate keywords in a way that feels natural and avoid copy-pasting directly from job postings. Your bullet points should reflect how you'd actually talk about your experiences in an interview or networking call," she said.
AI can be used in clarifying achievements, identifying the most relevant keywords, and translating transferable skills.
"But since many candidates will use similar language, one way to stand out is by adding a professional summary at the top of your resume that gives an authentic, specific overview of your background, strengths, and direction," she said.
