Jobseekers and AI: Crossing the line to cheating
Survey shows 92% of employers encountered AI misconduct in hiring, as graduates turn to tech amid tough job markets.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Jobseekers and graduates increasingly rely on AI to draft CVs and cover letters.
- ISE survey reveals 92% of employers encountered or suspected AI misconduct in recruitment.
- EDF closed its graduate scheme early after receiving 12,000 applications, up 10%.
- Recruiters warn using AI during video interviews or online assessments crosses the line into unethical cheating.
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in daily workflows, a pressing question arises for jobseekers: does using AI to draft resumes, write cover letters, or assist during online interviews cross the line from a helpful tool into unethical cheating?
According to trade groups and recruiters, job applicants are increasingly leveraging technology for applications. Most employers remain comfortable with candidates using AI within reason, such as drafting cover letters, polishing CVs, or identifying specific buzzwords required by initial automated screening processes.
Tom, a 22-year-old geography graduate from Maidstone who secured a restaurant manager role last month after submitting over 200 applications, admitted to using AI to refine his cover letters and find industry keywords, though he strictly avoided using it during assessments or interviews.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, industry surveys indicate that roughly 92% of employers have encountered or suspected AI misconduct during the selection process, rising from 85% the previous year. Most infractions involve candidates using AI as a real-time assistant during video interviews or to complete online assessments.
Hollie Moody from energy firm EDF, which recently closed its graduate scheme early after receiving 12,000 applications representing a 10% year-on-year increase, noted that AI likely contributed to the surge. She pointed out that applicants are bending rules more freely during selection stages, prompting firms to issue strict guidelines and make recruitment processes as AI-proof as possible.
The rapid rise of AI in recruitment highlights the intense pressure placed on jobseekers facing highly competitive markets. With graduate roles averaging 141 applications each, organizations are grappling with a moral dilemma. Although only a minority of employers currently use AI for candidate screening, more than half plan to adopt it to manage overwhelming volumes of applications while shifting toward behavioral and skills-based assessments to counter AI misuse.
A recently employed trainee accountant who requested anonymity shared that he used AI across all 50 of his graduate applications, but strictly for role research, CV formatting, and generating mock interview questions. He emphasized that desperation drives many peers to adopt the technology.
"I know people who have applied for 100 jobs and after a while they become desperate. If they see everyone else is using AI, they think how can I compete?"
Anonymous Graduate Applicant
According to the Institute of Student Employers (ISE), the graduate market has stabilized following a sharp decline last year but remains fiercely competitive. While only 16% of surveyed employers currently deploy AI for candidate screening, over 50% intend to introduce it to handle towering volumes of applicant data.
Source: BBC Business
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