Too Many Applicants, Too Little Time: How AI is s Making Hiring a Nightmare
If you’ve posted a job opening recently, you’ve probably been flooded with applications – hundreds, maybe even thousands. But instead of making hiring easier, this number of resumes is turning recruitment into a nightmare.
Why? Because AI is changing the hiring process – on both sides. Employers, recruiters, and job sites are using AI to filter through massive applicant pools, while job seekers are using AI to optimize their resumes to beat the system.
The result?
🚨 A AI-driven recruitment process is overloaded with volume – but lacking real human insight.
So, where does AI help recruiters, and where does human judgment still make all the difference?
Let’s break it down.
More Resumes, More Problems
Many recruiters today are struggling with too many applications.
More does not always mean better – and volume has made hiring a time-consuming nightmare.
With one-click applications, AI-generated cover letters, and automated resume builders, job seekers can apply to dozens (or even hundreds) of jobs in minutes. Some corporations report 1,000+ applications per job opening, making it nearly impossible to manually sift through resumes.
🔹 Finding the right hire should be about quality, not quantity.
🔹 Companies are spending more time filtering through bad matches than actually hiring.
It’s not that there’s a lack of great talent. It’s that finding them in a sea of AI-enhanced applications is overwhelming.
Candidates Are Using AI – And It’s a Double-Edged Sword
According to research, nearly 45% of job seekers now use AI tools like ChatGPT to generate or refine their resumes. At first glance, this seems like a time-saver for applicants, but here’s the problem:
💼 Resumes now look eerily similar and overly polished.
💼 AI enhanced applications lack personality and authenticity.
Instead of helping recruiters, AI has created more uncertainty.
🤖 Is this resume a reflection of the candidate’s real skills and experience? Or is it AI crafted fluff?
With so many candidates using AI to outsmart recruitment filters, recruiters are drowning in “perfect on paper” applicants but not enough real, qualified talent.
Who’s Really Winning?
To cope with the flood of AI-optimized applications, some recruiters have started using AI-driven hiring tools to scan and filter resumes.
📌 AI filters screen applications based on keywords, experience, and education.
📌 Some companies even use AI-driven video interviews, where algorithms assess speech patterns and facial expressions.
But does that mean hiring is getting smarter?
Not really.
Why?
❌ AI filters can be too rigid. They might screen out amazing candidates just because their resume lacks the “right” keywords.
❌ AI lacks human intuition. It can’t assess a candidate’s passion, adaptability, or cultural fit.
❌ It’s a game of optimization, not real talent assessment. Candidates are learning to tailor their resumes to trick the system, rather than showcasing genuine skills.
AI was supposed to make hiring easier, but in reality, it’s creating more blind spots in the recruitment process.
Where AI Falls Short – And Where Human Recruiters Still Win
Despite AI’s rise, there are key areas where human recruiters still outperform algorithms:
✅ Identifying Cultural Fit & Soft Skills
A resume might check all the right boxes, but does the candidate actually fit your team’s culture? AI can’t assess personality, motivation, or emotional intelligence – only human recruiters can.
✅ Spotting Red Flags
AI isn’t great at detecting resume inconsistencies or exaggerations. An experienced recruiter, however, can spot gaps in experience, vague job descriptions, or inflated skills.
✅ Understanding the Market
AI can analyze historical hiring trends, but recruiters work with real-time insights. We know where the talent is, what salary expectations are realistic, and how to attract the right people.
✅ Building Real Relationships
A great hire isn’t just about matching skills on paper – it’s about finding someone who aligns with your company’s mission, values, and goals. That’s something only a human recruiter can do.
The Future of Hiring: A Balance Between AI and Human Expertise
The best recruitment strategy in 2025?
🚀 You can use AI for efficiency – but let recruiters handle the real decision-making.
💡 AI can help filter volume, but recruiters ensure you hire the right people, not just the most optimized ones.
Struggling with AI-driven hiring? We get it.
At MEHR, we believe in a human-first approach to recruitment – because finding the right talent is about more than just keywords and algorithms.
💡 We are small enough for you to be our important partner, but we are big enough to cover all your HR needs.