Hiring
Is anyone actually reading your application?
AI recruitment tools are back in the headlines. A rejection does not tell you how the decision was made.
By Lizzie May · Published 3 November 2026 · 1 minute read
BBC reporting on 22 October highlighted concerns about AI in recruitment. Some tools match people to roles; others screen or grade CVs. Candidates are using AI too, leaving both sides wondering what they are actually reading.
There is no magic phrase that gets every CV past a system. Make yours clear. Use the job description to identify relevant skills, then show where you have genuinely used them. Keep the examples specific and check anything AI helps you write.
If a decision worries you, ask the employer how it was made and whether a person can review it. Do not assume every rejection was automated. Acas can help you understand recruitment concerns.
Sources
Source date: . Checked 3 November 2026.
This is general information, not legal advice. For workplace rights and your circumstances, visit Acas. Employment law differs in Northern Ireland; visit the Labour Relations Agency for local guidance.