The Accountants' Recruiter’s Post

I figured that I would open an honest dialogue here. The more research I am doing into finding a new job, the more I am realizing that the current job market is a scam. All companies are using AI to filter through their resumes and if your resume doesn't hold the key words from the job posting, that the algorithm is searching for, your resume gets tossed aside. Now with companies posting fake jobs, collecting data and creating false hopes in a difficult economy; it's clear that the job market is in turmoil right now. So many people that I know, struggling to find jobs and yet they are super experienced and qualified. It is up to the companies to fix this. These inhuman directives and practices come from above, and it is time that the directors, executives and all of those at the top of the food chain realize that they need our help. Where is the humanity? Where is the true leadership? Stop replacing your staff with machines, who will have the money necessary to purchase all of your creations?

The sheer volume of resumes is daunting. AI tools on both sides of the ledger are not delivering on their promise. As such, there is much about hiring/job searching that is broken. Every tool seeks to solve only a problem to one side, which creates an imbalance. This forces the other side to create tools to combat the new tools the other side has created. Applying to jobs has never been easier YET finding a job has never been more difficult.

Great piece on utilizing AI in your resume build. You can utilize it as a tool just like a calculator, but don't rely on it to build your entire resume! #careercoaching #humanresources #AI https://lnkd.in/euQzxt6B

Been thinking a lot about my recent job seeking journey and how different the landscape is now. Want to write up something about it. I think its no secret the system is a bit broken. Recruiters are sifting through hundreds if not thousands of applicants for every job posting. Applicants are feeling ignored, under-appreciated, and undervalued. Even getting a response from a real person these days is considered a win. AI is here with the promise of more effectively screening applicants, but I think we won't know whether it is "effective" for a while, and for applicants it feels even worse knowing you have to game your resume to bypass an AI screen. It feels now more than ever the system is rigged a very particular way and you have to play by a set of very rigid rules to even be considered for a job. Your resume becomes more buzzwordy, the definition of your "expertise" with a particular tool or tech stretches. As someone who hates presenting a dishonest version of myself, applying for jobs recently felt worse than it ever has been. I am not sure what the answer is here, or if there even is one. I do believe, due to the sheer volume of applicants for every job, that easy access to applying has become more of a cost than a benefit. I think most recruiters buried in resumes and angry applicants would agree, and I think most people seeing over 100 applicants to a job posted 30 minutes ago would also agree.

I have noticed something alarming over the past 12 months regarding applying for positions that I or other candidates are more than qualified for. I constantly see or personally get "AI generated" or "automated" messages stating my or another candidate's application has been reviewed, and they all state, "At this time, we have decided to pursue other candidates whom we feel more closely meet the needs of our office. We encourage you to apply to additional positions, etc." Multiple videos tell people how to write their CVs or resumes to get the best opportunity to be viewed "correctly" by AI or automated systems. So what happened to the person-to-person interaction and getting to know about the candidates applying for your positions honestly? I constantly hear about employers needing quality candidates for their open positions. I also hear about the extreme shortage of qualified candidates for certain professions. I wonder how many great candidates got "overlooked or passed over" because these automated systems that most companies are using did not pick up the "human aspect" of how good that person could have been for that position due to the verbiage or layout of their resume or CV? Plus, why do employers now make it so difficult to apply? Why does a person need a resume or CV if they have to manually fill out a different form for each position? Is anyone else seeing these issues? I am asking all of these questions to get constructive feedback, not to be combative about particular systems in place. Applying for any position with any company has become a very daunting task, and employers who are genuinely trying to find "great candidates" need to know this!

I don't know what you think, people, but when I do approach someone, I value listening, showing respect, giving the other person the chance to clarify any points we have discussed, evaluating them based on their experience, and ultimately determining whether or not they impress me with how they present the goal or objective or whether they might have something unique to offer what I'm looking for. It appears that AI will ignore it and squander what could have been a fantastic chance (I'm referring to all the job searchers here). I do know one thing, though: I will never, ever apply to those firms if I find out that AI is filtering resumes. It is offensive. Ex: You might want to examine the running time of an athlete who has been running for the past ten years and breaks the world record in person rather than counting the number of gold medals he doesn't have yet or didn't mentioned for whatever the reason. Work: Might be Interesting for you 3 resume mistakes that could land your application in an AI hiring filter ‘black hole’ https://lnkd.in/eU3EppK8 Nowadays, the first person to look at a job candidate’s application is usually, well, not a person at all. Data from 2019 found that three out of every four resumes are never seen by human eyes. And in January, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission estimated that 83% of all employers, including 99% of Fortune 500 companies, use automation to filter job applicants.

Have you ever applied for a job that you were qualified for, only to be rejected by an automated system? Unfortunately, this is a common issue with 3rd party hiring and AI. Recently, I applied for a higher-end job with extensive knowledge clearly stated on my resume. However, my application was automatically rejected, most likely due to a lack of specific key terms. Despite the help of the Director of Job Placement from my school, we were unable to reach a hiring manager to appeal the decision. This experience highlights the potential flaws of relying solely on automated systems to screen applicants. As we continue to navigate the hiring process, it's important to consider the limitations of technology and the potential impact on qualified candidates.

AI continues to be the great hope for all of those tedious tasks in life; in this case, the dreaded "application process." We've all been there at one point or another (most of us more than a few times)...searching for opportunities, uploading resumes and other info. to portals, etc. Taking anywhere from a half hour to an hour+ just to submit yourself as a candidate. 🤦♀️ So, I found this Business Insider article very interesting (and entertaining). The rise of AI bots in sending out resumes. I know I will be sharing it with my business students, given we cover employment communications every semester. Wanted to share it here as well. https://lnkd.in/gGnYj_ZP #jobhunt #resumeservices #artificialintelligence

How do you stand out in a competitive job search? According to recent market reports AI is driving up the number of job applications, particularly in a competitive graduate market. But from my experience (and the findings of the research), high application rates typically mean low quality applications. 1. Tailor your CV for the key jobs you are excited about. Some tweaking to mirror their requirement can make a difference, if even slightly. 2. Follow up your application with a phone call to confirm receipt and ask about the next steps, recruitment process, timescales etc - this way your CV is more likely to be open, read and processed in real time and in person. 3. Connect with hiring managers on linkedin and introduce yourself. Express your interest in careers in the business and ask what they are looking for in their successful applications - a bit of pro-activity can make a huge difference. 4. Record your applications, spreadsheet them, track them and follow up with each application no later than 1 week after applying by email etc. It's surprisingly easy to stand out in a crowded job market as 90% of the crowd are just throwing shit at the wall and hoping it sticks. AI is making this easier than ever. So out of the 100, 200, 1000 "people" applying for a job - make sure you are the one applicant who is making themselves known.