Virtual job interviews don't let people shine, says Burnham
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has criticized the reliance on virtual job interviews and AI screening, arguing they fail to capture a candidate's personality and passion. He advocates for more in-person interactions and increased work experience opportunities for young people.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the tension between corporate efficiency through AI and the human element of recruitment in a challenging youth job market.
Image source, Getty Images By Jennifer Meierhans Business reporter Published 13 minutes ago Bosses should not rely so heavily on virtual job interviews when hiring as they don't capture candidates' personality and passion, Andy Burnham has said.
"One thing I really don't like is this culture now of interviewing via Zoom or Teams," the prime minister told a careers podcast, adding: "How does a young person shine in that situation?"
With record youth unemployment and vacancies half what they were in recent years employers are increasingly turning to AI to sift through the huge volume of applications and favouring online interviews over in person.
But some young people have told the BBC the experience of applying for hundreds of jobs and never hearing back is "robotic and brutal".
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