New report reveals how hiring teams are navigating an AI-assisted recruitment process
Hiring professionals are keeping humans at the centre of the recruitment process despite the growing use of artificial intelligence, according to a new report from Willo.
The third edition of its Hiring Trends Report revealed how widespread AI use has become among both jobseekers and hiring professionals, making authenticity an increasing challenge in recruitment.
"Now in its third edition, it offers a clear look at how hiring teams are adapting – from candidates using AI to complete applications, to employers using AI to bring structure, consistency, and clarity back into the process," said Willo CEO Euan Cameron.
According to the findings, 76.6% of hiring teams now regularly encounter AI-assisted candidate applications. This is consistent with other surveys showing that jobseekers are using AI to improve their résumés and cover letters.
At the same time, hiring teams are also starting to use AI in their hiring process, with 52.1% of the respondents saying they've added AI tools or features.
Some of the uses of AI among hiring teams include:
- Managing volume
- Summarising long responses
- Standardising early-stage screening
- Reducing repetitive tasks
- Improving overall process consistency
"We're seeing a much more confident attitude towards AI. Employers are clearer about where automation adds value and where human judgement must remain central," Cameron said.
Keeping humans at the centre
Despite the growing use of AI by both jobseekers and employers, hiring teams are taking steps to ensure authenticity in recruitment.
Nearly half of the respondents (47.3%) said they have updated their interview techniques to focus on deeper probing.
Others have added assessments (31.9%), more personal questions (27.5%), and increased use of video interviews or assessments (22%).
These findings align with recent reports indicating that recruiters are throwing their support behind "live-only" interviews amid growing instances of AI assisting jobseekers during hiring.
Meanwhile, other hiring teams are training employees to spot AI-generated content (27.5%), while others have implemented AI detection tools or software (14.3%).
Moving away from résumés
Four in 10 hiring teams also said they are actively moving away from résumés as more applicants use AI to brush them up. Instead, recruiters are starting to lean more on:
- Scenario-based assessments
- One-way video that captures communication style and authenticity
- Structured question sets that probe real experiences
- Hands-on tasks that demonstrate actual capability
"Moving beyond résumés to holistic, scenario-driven evaluation will help us identify adaptable, high-potential talent, especially from diverse backgrounds," said Kree Govender, SMB Canada Leader, Microsoft, in the report.
Humans as final decision-makers
Meanwhile, the majority of hiring teams (78.7%) also agreed that final hiring decisions are best handled by humans.
They also believe that the following hiring decisions should never be automated:
- Salary and offer discussions (72.3%)
- Candidate outreach and relationship building (62.8%)
- Conducting interviews and assessments (59.6%)
"The best hiring teams realise it's not humans versus AI, it's humans deciding how to use AI well, and when we know what 'good' looks like, AI becomes a support system rather than a judge," Cameron said.
"Faster, fairer, and more insightful hiring is possible, but only when technology is used to bring human potential into clearer focus."
