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Former Minister Raises Concerns About AI in Recruitment

David TC Davies, a former cabinet minister and Welsh secretary under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has raised alarms over the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job recruitment after he experienced automatic rejections for positions due to his lack of a university degree. He is urging companies to reconsider the use of AI tools in their hiring processes.

Many organizations are increasingly relying on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter and rank resumes. While this practice is commonplace, there is growing apprehension that it may inadvertently eliminate strong candidates from consideration.

The UK government has issued guidelines on responsible AI use in recruitment, which cautions employers about the potential risks of bias and discrimination against applicants at various stages of the hiring process.

Davies’s background is notable; he left school at the age of 16 and worked in his family’s haulage business before becoming a member of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999. He served as the Member of Parliament for Monmouth for 19 years. Following his recent exit from politics, he began applying for several jobs that required a degree and faced immediate rejection, a situation he attributes to outdated criteria enforced by automated systems.

In an interview, he expressed frustration, stating, “Clearly when you submit a CV nobody human looks at them at all – and if you have a slightly odd CV, which I have, then you have no chance.”

Davies also recounted a peculiar experience during the application process with a multinational corporation, which asked for details about his last manager. He humorously noted that he responded with the names of both Rishi Sunak and his title as Prime Minister, leading to an inevitable rejection due to the unrealistic nature of the response. “I have Rishi’s number but certainly wasn’t going to put it in the box. Result? Rejection!” he quipped, reflecting on the absurdity of the questions he faced.

His situation highlights the broader difficulties faced by many who have lost their political positions; Davies was among 175 Conservative MPs who were ousted in the last election. Those who lost their seats were eligible for a severance payment and received job-seeking assistance. However, the challenge of transitioning to a new career remains daunting for many.

Citing that some employers may inadvertently overlook unique talents by imposing strict qualification mandates through ATS, Davies warned that such systems could foster homogeneity among candidates. He noted a particular instance where a response to his CV suggested he be considered for a low-level public affairs role, a notion he found dismissive of his extensive experience.

“This is not a complaint; it’s not just about me. It’s about others who may not fit the conventional job trajectory,” said Davies. He emphasized that traditional qualifications do not always correlate with a candidate’s true capabilities, recalling how the practical skills he developed in his family’s business—navigating the challenges of logistics pre-smartphone—required a level of ingenuity often disregarded by automated systems.

Now serving as the chief of staff for the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Davies asserts that reliance on AI recruitment tools could hinder innovative firms. “They’re going to recruit all the same sort of people – they’re going to end up with template people,” he warned, calling for a reassessment of how technology is utilized in hiring practices.

Source
www.bbc.com