The Broken System of “Talent Acquisition” – Why Skilled People Are Being Overlooked

 

In today’s job market, you’d think that having the right skills, experience, and education would be enough to land a job. Yet, more and more highly qualified professionals are finding themselves stuck in an endless cycle of job applications, AI-screened CVs, and interview rounds that feel more like obstacle courses than genuine hiring processes.

The rise of “Talent Acquisition” as a corporate buzzword has shifted recruitment from a straightforward hiring process into a rigid, overly complex system that often prioritises the wrong things. Employers claim they’re struggling to find the “right talent,” yet thousands of capable candidates are being overlooked due to arbitrary screening methods and unrealistic hiring expectations.

 

The Recruitment Maze – What’s Really Happening?

1. AI Screening and Algorithmic Bias
   Many job applications never even reach human eyes. Automated applicant tracking systems (ATS) filter out CVs based on keywords, formatting issues, or a lack of precise experience—regardless of transferable skills.

2. Endless Interview Rounds & Assessments
   It’s no longer just a CV review and a conversation. Candidates now face one-way video interviews, case studies, psychometric tests, group exercises, and multiple interview rounds. All this for jobs that, ironically, require strong people skills, adaptability, and problem-solving—qualities that a robotic process can’t measure properly.

3. Experience Inflation & The “Perfect Candidate” Illusion
   Companies are searching for unicorns—candidates who tick every single box, from niche technical skills to industry-specific experience. Instead of investing in training and development, they keep positions open for months, waiting for the impossible “perfect fit.”

4. Bias & The Hidden Reality of Hiring Preferences
   Despite claims of diversity and inclusion, many hiring processes reinforce biases—whether it’s age, gender, experience level, or even how well someone performs in an interview setting. Employers say they want experienced professionals, but in reality, they often lean towards younger candidates who can be hired at lower salaries.

 

The Real Impact? A Growing Talent Waste

This broken system isn’t just frustrating for job seekers—it’s hurting businesses too. Skilled professionals are being sidelined, while organisations claim they can’t fill positions. The disconnect is glaring:

• Millions of people with valuable experience are struggling to get hired.

• Companies complain about a lack of qualified applicants, yet reject skilled candidates who don’t “fit” a rigid checklist.

• Instead of focusing on potential, adaptability, and problem-solving ability, the hiring process has become an endurance test.

 

What Needs to Change?

Rehumanise Hiring – Recruiters should actually read CVs and focus on transferable skills, not just keyword matches.

Prioritise Skills Over Perfection – Hiring someone capable and training them is far better than leaving positions unfilled for months.

Make Interviews Meaningful Again – One or two interviews should be enough to assess a candidate. If it takes five rounds, the problem isn’t the candidate—it’s the process.

Stop Penalising Experienced Professionals – Experience should be seen as a strength, not a drawback. Employers should invest in skilled professionals rather than seeking the cheapest option.

 

Final Thoughts

The current recruitment process isn’t designed to find the best people—it’s designed to filter out as many applicants as possible. But at what cost? Businesses are missing out on incredible talent. Candidates are losing confidence in the system.

It’s time for hiring to focus on real skills, real people, and real potential.

If you’ve experienced this hiring madness, share your thoughts below! Let’s start a conversation about fixing recruitment before it breaks the job market completely.

© 2025 Marlena Pakula. All Rights Reserved. 

Why Are 1.5 Million Britons Still Struggling to Find a Job?

 

The UK job market is facing a paradox—millions of people are actively looking for work, yet hundreds of thousands of job vacancies remain unfilled. Recent reports highlight the growing frustration among job seekers who find themselves trapped in a seemingly never-ending cycle of applications, rejections, and underemployment.

So, why is it so hard to find a job in today's market? Let’s break it down.

The Unemployment Paradox

Between September and November 2024, 1.57 million Britons were actively seeking employment. Yet, at the same time, over 800,000 job vacancies remained unfilled. If there are so many open positions, why aren’t they being filled? The answer lies in a combination of intense competition, unrealistic employer expectations, and economic shifts.

Overcrowded Job Market: More Candidates, Fewer Opportunities

Job seekers report hundreds of applicants for a single role, making competition fiercer than ever. Even individuals with extensive experience and qualifications are struggling to secure roles. The overwhelming number of applications often leads to automated rejections or ghosting, leaving job seekers frustrated and demotivated.

Employer Expectations Have Shifted

Many employers expect more while offering less. Job postings frequently list extensive requirements—years of experience, advanced skills, and multiple responsibilities—without adjusting salaries accordingly. The demand for immediate productivity means fewer companies are willing to train new hires, closing the door on those trying to transition careers or re-enter the workforce.

The Impact of AI and Automation

Artificial intelligence and digital tools are transforming workplaces, reducing the need for certain job roles. Tasks that once required customer service professionals, administrators, or entry-level analysts are now automated, shrinking job availability in these fields. While technology creates new opportunities, it also reshapes industries faster than people can adapt.

The Graduate Struggle: Overqualified, Underemployed

The promise of higher education leading to stable employment is fading for many graduates. Despite holding degrees and even postgraduate qualifications, many find themselves in low-paying, unrelated jobs. Employers hesitate to hire graduates without direct experience, leaving many unable to secure positions in their chosen fields.

Economic Inactivity: A Growing Concern

Beyond the unemployed, nearly 11 million working-age Britons are considered economically inactive due to long-term health conditions, caring responsibilities, or lack of accessible jobs. This further complicates the employment landscape, as a significant portion of the workforce is unable to contribute to filling existing vacancies.

What Needs to Change?

The current employment challenges demand systemic solutions:

✔ Reevaluating Hiring Practices: Employers must streamline application processes and adjust unrealistic job requirements. The hiring system should value transferable skills and potential, not just rigid experience criteria.

✔ Investment in Training & Upskilling: Companies should reintroduce training programs to help job seekers adapt to evolving job roles rather than expecting candidates to come pre-packaged with every skill.

✔ Bridging the Skills Gap: The disconnect between education and employment must be addressed by aligning qualifications with market demands and offering career transition support.

✔ Addressing Workplace Flexibility: With rising health-related work restrictions and caregiving responsibilities, companies should adopt more flexible work arrangements to allow more people to participate in the workforce.

Final Thoughts

The UK’s employment crisis is not just about a lack of jobs—it’s about a mismatch between candidates, employer expectations, and a rapidly evolving job market. Job seekers are not the problem; the hiring process, unrealistic job criteria, and lack of adaptation to workforce needs are.

Until these issues are tackled, the frustration of countless skilled professionals facing rejection after rejection will only continue. It’s time to rethink hiring and create a job market that truly works for everyone.

© 2025 Marlena Pakula. All Rights Reserved.