60% of U.S. Job Seekers Fault Opaque Hiring Processes, 54% Back ATS Curbs
Updated
Updated · HR Dive · May 12
60% of U.S. Job Seekers Fault Opaque Hiring Processes, 54% Back ATS Curbs
4 articles · Updated · HR Dive · May 12
60% of U.S. job seekers said the worst part of applying is not knowing whether a human ever reviewed their resume, according to Monster’s May 1 Application Black Box Report.
More than 1,000 surveyed workers said silence, automation and repetitive steps shorten how long they stay engaged, even after spending time tailoring resumes and navigating applicant-tracking systems.
54% said they favor heavy regulation or an outright ban on applicant tracking systems, while 40% said they usually add job-description keywords to resumes to satisfy opaque automated screening.
Technical breakdowns are adding to the strain: 61% reported resume-upload errors or other application glitches during the hiring process.
The findings fit a broader backlash against AI-led recruiting: Greenhouse said 70% of job seekers were not told AI would evaluate them, and 38% had already quit a process over an AI interview.
As job seekers and employers both use AI, is the hiring 'arms race' making it impossible for the best candidate to win?
With new laws demanding AI transparency, why are most applicants still judged by secret algorithms?