AI hiring tools may overlook qualified candidates
BOSTON, United States — A recent Harvard Business School study suggests using artificial intelligence (AI) in hiring, like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), might inadvertently overlook qualified job candidates.
The study found that 99% of Fortune 500 companies and 63% of businesses in Germany, the UK, and the U.S. utilize ATS in their hiring processes.
Manjari Raman, a key researcher for the study, noted that while ATS streamlines large volumes of applications, it can bypass suitable candidates.
A trick known as “white fonting,” where job posts are copied into resumes in invisible text, has been employed by some to outsmart the AI. However, experts debunk this technique as ineffective.
Professor Joseph Fuller from Harvard Business School explained that many recruiters can easily detect this tactic.
“Also, if your actual job history doesn’t fit very well with the requirements of the job, and you’re bluffing your way into the interview process, you’re likely, in fact, not to succeed,” he added.
The bias in AI recruitment was first highlighted in 2018 when Amazon’s hiring software undervalued female candidates. Similarly, other tools showed a preference for specific names or backgrounds.
Kerry McInerney, a Research Fellow from the University of Cambridge, cautioned about AI unintentionally replicating biases from its training data.
Fuller recommends part-time jobs or gig work for candidates overlooked by AI to enhance their resumes. With such concerns, there’s a worldwide movement urging stricter regulations on AI hiring tools for a fairer system.
