#Hiring

A breakthrough study from San Francisco State University has identified three simple interview questions that could effectively flag narcissistic tendencies in job applicants—a finding with important implications for Thai workplaces concerned about team dynamics and organisational health. The research, published in June 2025 and highlighted by Psychology Today, responds to a growing need for practical screening tools that can efficiently identify problematic personalities before they impact the work environment or company culture (Psychology Today).

A new study from San Francisco State University offers three simple interview questions that can flag narcissistic tendencies in job applicants. The findings, published in June 2025 and summarized by Psychology Today, provide practical tools for Thai organizations aiming to protect team dynamics and organizational health.

In Thailand, where harmony and “namjai” (น้ำใจ) are valued, unchecked narcissism can quietly undermine collaboration, morale, and performance. The research focuses on narcissistic grandiosity—the aspect most linked to disruptive workplace behavior. The team reduced an initial pool of 19 indicators to three core questions, designed to fit both formal interviews and casual group discussions. The questions reliably correlated with scores on standard narcissism measures, offering a quick screening method rather than a formal diagnosis.

Employers around the world—and increasingly in Thailand—are finding themselves overwhelmed by a tidal wave of job applications, many crafted not by diligent candidates but by artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The rise of generative AI, like ChatGPT, is making it easier than ever for jobseekers to flood recruiters with impressive-looking, keyword-optimised résumés, catapulting both job seekers and employers into an “AI arms race” that is transforming the hiring landscape.

In the space of just 12 hours, a relatively routine remote tech job advertised on LinkedIn in the United States received over 400 applications; in 24 hours, that number grew to 600. By the time the posting was removed a few days later, 1,200 résumés had landed in the recruiter’s inbox. More than three months later, the HR consultant was still sorting through the glut nytimes.com. This surge in applications isn’t unique to America: With LinkedIn reporting a 45% increase in application submissions over the past year, totalling an astonishing 11,000 job applications per minute, the trend is going global and is rapidly affecting Thai enterprises as well.

A global hiring surge driven by AI is sweeping into Thailand, challenging recruiters to separate genuine talent from machine-generated noise. Generative AI tools can craft tailored resumes that mirror job descriptions with astonishing precision, turning applicants into near-perfect matches on paper. The result is an unprecedented influx of applications, forcing HR teams to rethink screening processes and speed up decision-making.

In the United States, a routine remote tech role on LinkedIn drew more than 400 applications in 12 hours, 600 in 24 hours, and 1,200 by the posting’s removal a few days later. Even months later, the recruiter was still sorting through hundreds of similar submissions. LinkedIn data shows a 45% rise in applications over the past year, equating to roughly 11,000 submissions per minute globally. Thai companies, from large firms to local SMEs, report similar pressures as they adapt to this new normal.