At the SHRM23 conference earlier this year, we spent a good bit of time chatting with HR and TA pros about ChatGPT, the seemingly sudden rise of AI, and the ways it might impact recruiting and hiring. Concerns that ChatGPT could be used as a tool for candidates to cheat their way into a job were raised more than once.

As using AI applications like ChatGPT becomes more common for job-seekers looking to spiff up their cover letters and résumés, prep for interviews, or ace employer assessments, recruiters and TA professionals are still working out the kinks on how to assess candidates.

“There’s always a chance that somebody [using AI] can squeak their way through, but it’s better to ask open-ended questions specific to the type of work and outcomes that you’re looking for in the role,” said Rachel Cupples, senior recruiter at Textio. “So, if someone cannot speak to or explain how they’ve done something or their experience doing something, then they’re likely to be eliminated.”

The issue of embellished résumés isn’t new, and candidates showcasing the best version of themselves on paper to land a job is pretty commonplace. But with the rise of ChatGPT and other tools, candidates can now borrow from AI or use it to downright lie on their application in a way that perfectly aligns with an open position.

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More than 70% of Americans oppose AI’s use in final hiring decisions. Despite this, nearly 1 in 4 organizations plans to increase their use of AI tools in hiring and recruitment. Even with all the praise for automation, it seems like workers miss the human element.

HR professionals should take note of this report from Tech Brew that dives into how applicants respond to new hiring tools like personality tests and chatbots. This report can give insight into establishing standards for objectivity and avoiding bias in algorithms. Check out the statistics and implications here.

A new year typically brings new goals, and for many, that means landing a new job. That might be why the majority (66%) of employers are prioritizing retaining talent for the remainder of the year, recent data from insurance broker and consultancy Gallagher suggests. Over 4,000 US organizations participated in the survey, which was conducted between December 2022 and Mary 2023.

Factors including inadequate pay, a lack of career development, poor leadership, limited workplace flexibility, and not feeling supported by employers all contribute to employee turnover, according to Gallagher.

While labor shortages, high turnover rates, and legislative changes have spurred employers to enhance their compensation packages to reduce the risk of losing talent, there’s another area HR can focus on to maintain their workforce.

Doing well, thanks. Employee well-being is a hot topic these days. More than two-thirds of respondents said they upgraded their well-being initiatives this year. That’s up six points from the previous year. But what does well-being mean, and how can it be used as a retention tool?

Keep reading here.—AS

A precisely worded job description is the first step in attracting top-tier applicants, but there is one particular phrase that can make a candidate say, “no, thanks” before they even scroll to the salary: Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Why are cover letters still a thing in 2023? The first job posting to request a cover letter ran in a 1956 edition of the New York Times, according to The Atlantic. It was for an industrial paint chemist with Dutch Boy Paints and required applicants to mail in their résumé.

Mailing in or dropping off résumés would be the way of the world until the birth of the fax machine and then the online application. But the application itself hasn’t changed for decades.

Fast-forward. Almost one-half (44%) of LinkedIn users surveyed by Chris Morrison, founder of executive search and board advisory firm Meritos, believe “the cover letter is dead,” but almost as many (43%) said the cover letter is “alive and well.” So, which is it?

Keep reading here.—AS

Today’s top HR reads.

Stat: Healthcare jobs are becoming more dangerous. Hospitals in one network have seen a 57% uptick in calls to security from 2019 to 2020. (Grand Valley Lanthorn)

Quote: “I think it's important at a national level that clear principles are established around [AI’s] use so that it is used to augment and support what people do rather than replace jobs.”—Mary Connaughton, director of HR services firm CIPD, on the need for a “national conversation” in Ireland on AI’s effect on the workplace (BreakingNews.ie)

Read: As well as sub-zero temperatures and constant darkness, women working at a research center in Antarctica reportedly also have to deal with pervasive sexual harassment. (NZ Herald)

Won’t you stay?: Find out how companies are partnering with CareerBuilder to retain top talent—and get a sneak peek into the current state of hiring. Download the report.*

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