Just spotted this on the BBc, frankly its been happening for sometime https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55932977
The problem is, its become dead easy to email a CV. Gone are the days where you had to “word process” or type an individual CV and covering letter then physically post it to a job application or perspective employer. Now its all done at the click of a button. Jobsearch sites like, well Jobsearch, CV Library, Indeed (just to name a few) have made it easy.
Do a search for the job, one click apply, off it goes. That simple. You could send several dozen applications in under 15 minutes (and i have done it).
Likewise you then have the poor long suffering recruiter who has posted the advert (employers seldom do their own recruiting now). They then have a “Google” like software that sifts through the 100’s or even 1000’s of CVs to sift out the candidates they could contact. This is why a well crafted CV is needed. All that the job advert asks for, those key words need to be in the CV. If not, even if you have the skills, you do not get selected.
So there it is, the first “job interview” by computer.
Then you might have various other computer based tests which weigh up the kind of person you are and whether you have what it takes, the “right stuff” to join the organisation as a whole. I went for a job years ago, i was well suited for and failed here.
The trouble with all this is it tends to put the better candidates off applying that way. After all why would you go to the trouble of completing an “online application” asking alsorts of weird and personal questions (many were answered on your CV anyway), where a single click off a jobsearch site, and off it goes. Probably send several dozen in that time too!
I think the reality though is artificial intelligence will be the primary interviewer. Your fast task will not be impressing a human being, but ticking the boxes in a series of algorithms.
So, how do we get round this?
Well its about making sure that your CV and covering letter are crafted to the position your applying for. Yes, if its a specific position, your CV may need to be tweaked to ensure it carries all the key words the advert does. Paying special attention to the job spec and job description.
This is one thing that hasn’t changed regarding jobsearch, sending the CV off might be dead easy, but getting passed that initial post is the hardest.
This is why if you find that job where the conditions are just right got you. Its worth taking that time to tweak. Otherwise like the dozens before, you will be lucky to even get a “no thank you”.