The Brian Lehrer Show AI in the Job Market
5 snips
Sep 18, 2025 Hilke Schellmann, an investigative reporter and NYU journalism professor, explores AI's impact on hiring practices. She reveals how applicant-tracking systems can perpetuate bias through keyword choices and discusses the risks associated with one-way video interviews, particularly for older applicants and those with disabilities. Schellmann also provides practical advice for job seekers on crafting machine-readable resumes and navigating automated rejection. This thought-provoking conversation sheds light on the urgent need for transparency in AI-driven hiring.
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AI Handles Early Resume Screening
- Large job platforms and applicant tracking systems use AI to parse and rank resumes by keywords and similarity to job descriptions.
- This automates initial screening and creates yes/no piles before human review.
AI Use Is Broad, Not Just Tech
- AI hiring tools are widespread across large firms, retail chains, finance, and increasingly mid-size employers via job platforms.
- Small organizations without high applicant volume are less likely to use these systems.
Historical Biases Become Algorithmic Signals
- Algorithms trained on historical hires can reproduce and amplify past biases by using predictive but irrelevant keywords.
- Biased signals like 'baseball' vs 'softball' or names and locations can skew outcomes unrelated to job fit.
