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.

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