"Applicant Tsunami": AI-Generated Résumés Force Global Rethink in Hiring
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.