The rise of artificial intelligence was expected to simplify recruitment, but according to Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait, it has instead created a cycle that is frustrating both job seekers and employers.
As candidates increasingly rely on AI to mass-submit applications, recruiters are struggling to identify qualified talent, resulting in what Chait describes as an “AI doom loop.”
Job Seekers Feel Trapped in a Broken System
For many people searching for work, the traditional application process has become discouraging.
Countless résumés are submitted without acknowledgment, interviews are rare, and rejection—or complete silence—has become commonplace.
Chait believes the hiring process has reached a point where neither side benefits.
Applicants continue sending more applications without seeing better results, while employers are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of submissions.
AI Tools Encourage Mass Applications
To improve their chances, many job seekers have begun purchasing AI-powered services that automatically apply for hundreds—or even thousands—of vacancies.
According to Chait, these inexpensive tools allow candidates to distribute applications across multiple openings with almost no effort.
While this saves time for applicants, it dramatically increases the number of submissions recruiters must review.
Recruiters Struggle Under an Avalanche of Applications
The impact is being felt across hiring teams. Greenhouse currently hosts approximately 175,000 active job listings, with each vacancy attracting an average of 254 applicants.
As a result, recruiters are handling more than four times as many applications as before.
The situation becomes even more difficult because many AI-generated applications share similar wording and formatting.
Recruiters often find it challenging to distinguish genuinely interested candidates from those who have automatically applied to hundreds of positions.
The “AI Doom Loop” Explained
Chait argues that employers are now relying on AI tools to filter the overwhelming number of applications, while applicants respond by using even more AI to submit additional applications.
This self-reinforcing cycle is what he calls the “AI doom loop.”
Instead of making hiring more efficient, artificial intelligence is creating additional obstacles for both recruiters and candidates, making the entire recruitment process less effective.
Even Top Companies Can’t Find the Right Talent
Despite receiving enormous numbers of applications, many businesses say locating qualified candidates has become increasingly difficult.
Former Google engineer Arvind Jain, founder of AI startup Glean, revealed that his company receives thousands of applications every day.
Yet many strong candidates are hired elsewhere before recruiters have time to review a significant portion of the submissions.
Jain noted that while students often believe employers have countless hiring options, companies are facing their own challenges in finding the right people.
Data Highlights the Scale of the Problem
Recent figures illustrate just how competitive the employment market has become.
In the United Kingdom alone, more than 1.2 million applications were submitted for fewer than 17,000 graduate positions last year.
Some applicants have reportedly spent months applying for thousands of jobs without receiving a single interview invitation.
Industry leaders also warn that artificial intelligence could reduce the number of entry-level opportunities available, potentially making competition even more intense for younger workers entering the workforce.
AI Is Changing Communication Too
The effects of AI extend beyond job applications themselves.
Actress Anne Hathaway recently shared that she received multiple thank-you messages generated by ChatGPT after making a hire.
She suggested that overly polished, AI-written communication can often be easy to recognize, cautioning candidates that relying too heavily on automated writing tools may undermine authenticity.
Greenhouse Introduces New Hiring Features
Rather than encouraging people to abandon AI entirely, Greenhouse is attempting to redesign parts of the recruitment process.
One new feature, called “My Dream Job,” allows candidates to identify a single position each month as their highest priority across the platform.
By limiting the number of selections, the company hopes employers can better identify applicants with genuine interest.
According to Chait, nearly 500,000 candidates have already used the feature, and those applicants have been hired at a significantly higher rate than average users.
Greenhouse has also acquired AI voice-interviewing company Ezra AI Labs.
The technology is designed to give every applicant an opportunity to complete an initial interview instead of relying solely on résumé screening, which Chait argues can introduce bias and unnecessarily delay hiring decisions.
Personal Connections Still Matter
Although AI is becoming a permanent part of recruitment, experts believe personal effort remains one of the strongest ways to stand out.
Simple gestures, such as sending a handwritten thank-you note, can leave a lasting impression because they have become increasingly uncommon.
Networking also continues to play a crucial role. Netskope CEO Sanjay Beri recently argued that many of the best career opportunities are never publicly advertised, making professional relationships more valuable than submitting countless online applications.
His advice for young professionals is to actively build their networks by attending industry events and meeting new people several times each week, as those connections can ultimately open doors that automated applications cannot.
