Swiping Left on Talent
The Cost-cutting Trend That is Making Hiring a Dystopian Nightmare that is Sabotaging Your Talent Pool
Cliffnotes for those in a hurryâŚ
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Swiping Left on Talent: Why One-Way Interviews Are Sabotaging Your Hiring Process
In the latest trend in hiring, companies are introducing âone-way interviewsââasking candidates to record video responses to questions with no real human interaction. Hereâs why this approach might be costing you the very talent youâre hoping to attract:
Dehumanizing and Awkward: Candidates are asked to speak to a camera without real-time feedback, creating an unnatural, uncomfortable experience thatâs more of a test in tech comfort than job skills.
Potential for Bias: One-way interviews open doors to snap judgments based on appearance, age, or mannerisms, increasing the risk of bias and reducing diversity in hiring.
Efficiency Over Connection: This trend prioritizes process over people, sending a clear message that efficiency matters more than meaningful engagement, driving away top candidates who value a genuine connection.
Hurting Company Reputation: In a competitive job market, hiring practices reflect company values. One-way interviews can leave candidates with a poor impression, making them less likely to consider working with you.
Is it time to reconsider the human touch in hiring? Read on to find out why bringing real conversations back to the table might be the best way to attract skilled, enthusiastic talent.
Story
âAre you kidding me? A one-way interview? They want people to sit in front of a camera, alone, and justâŚtalk to it? No human interaction, no conversation, just applicants recording themselves answering questions for a job application. What kind of soulless nonsense is this?â
I heard a small gasp and looked toward my office door, Ophelia hovered in the doorway, her little wings flapping, her big eyes wide with concern and curiosity, "You didn't admit a soul eater to the academy did you?"
âOh, Ophelia, I wish it was something as simple as a soul eater! I'd know what to do about that. No, this is far worse. It's the latest in a long line of stupid hiring practices. I feel like it's just this growing tsunami and there is nothing I can do to stem the flood! Every week I hear another business owner complaining that 'no one want to work anymore' or 'the talent pool is devoid of talent' and Iâm just pulling out my hair trying to get them to understand that it's not the job candidates that have changed, it's the businesses."
Ophelia came fully into my office, plopping herself onto a stack of my most important files like she owned the place. "Seriously? Another one? I just finished reading your article about that⌠uh⌠LinkerBot Hiring Helper Thingy! You know, the one thatâs supposed to magically find the perfect human with the power of âfake-intuitionâ or whatever.â She rolled her eyes. "As if a machine can just zap and know if someoneâs going to fit in at a company. Whatâs next? Are they going to program an app to âfeel outâ peopleâs vibes?â
"They might as well, this is just as bad. In this latest nightmare in hiring practicesâcompanies are asking candidates to record âone-way interviews,â where they talk to a camera like theyâre auditioning for a reality show. No live interaction, no chance to connect with an actual person, nothing! Just you, a list of questions, and a timer." I shake my head, barely able to believe it myself.
"But Cheryl! That sounds dreadful! Like... like... an interview with a ghost! Talking to a void and hoping it... talks back somehow? And who thought THAT was a good idea?! Do they have ANY clue what that does to someoneâs confidence? What are they trying to proveâthat people can survive the awkwardness of talking to their own reflection?"
"Exactly!" I practically shouted, grateful that someone else saw how absurd this was. "Imagine trying to put your best foot forward when thereâs no one there to even smile or nod in response. It's dehumanizing, awkward, andâlet's be honestâineffective. Youâd think hiring managers would realize that the ability to make eye contact or gauge someoneâs reaction might, oh, I donât know, be somewhat important in hiring a human being!"
"I know that when I started recording TikTok videos for Ophelia's Bazaar, it was a total catastrophe! The first time I hit record, I just... froze! Completely stiff. Like someone had cast a 'Stuck in Place' spell on me. My face was locked in this painfully awkward smileâyou know, that smile youâd give to a troll that just asked you for a dance. I could practically feel my soul shriveling. All I could do was stare at myself in horror!â
She sighed and shook her head, âI thought, âAlright, just act casual.â So I did a little wave, but instead, I smacked my teacup clear across the room! Tea everywhere, Cheryl! It soaked my notes, splattered on my cloak, and nearly startled my cat into next week! Then there was the time⌠I don't even know what I was thinking!" She covered her face, looking mortified to think about it let alone say it out loud. Finally, in a whisper, she admitted, "I did finger guns!"
I laughed out loud. I instantly felt bad, but I just couldn't get that picture out of my head!
"Oh, it gets worse," Ophelia confided. âI didnât realize I was holding a half-eaten muffin. Crumbs exploded everywhere. Everywhere, Cheryl. And instead of just ignore what happened and keep going, I tried to clean it up. I looked like a squirrel that had gone rogue!" At this point, Ophelia slumped back, a hand on her heart, "And thatâs just me promoting a mug!"
Ophelia threw her arms in the air, sighing in defeat. âAnd they expect people to do this nonsense for a job interview? Can you just imagine what these hiring videos must look like? Or how many hours people spend trying to record it just right?"
"Exactly!" I practically shouted, grateful that someone else saw how absurd this was. "Imagine trying to put your best foot forward when thereâs no one there to even smile or nod in response. Just you, all dressed up with no place to go, sitting in an empty room, talking to yourself like some sort of desperate, low-budget audition It's dehumanizing, awkward, andâlet's be honestâineffective. Youâd think hiring managers would realize that the ability to make eye contact or gauge someoneâs reaction might, oh, I donât know, be somewhat important in hiring a human being! Theyâve slapped together all the worst aspects of tech and shoved them into hiring. And for what? To make job hunting even more miserable than it already is?"
Opheliaâs eyes go wide as she flutters into my office. âWhat are they even hoping to learn from that? How well someone can talk to a glowing box? What if the person would be perfect for the job but gets flustered on camera? Do they care? Itâs like asking a troll to knitâcompletely irrelevant!â
âYes! My thoughts, exactly!â I say, exasperated. âAnd that's not even the worst of it!"
Opheliaâs mouth fell open, her claws clutching her cheeks like sheâd just discovered her favorite glitter stash had gone missing. "It gets worse?"
"Yes, itâs not just awkwardâitâs unfair," I continued, feeling my blood pressure rising. "Youâre judging a personâs entire character based on how well they perform under artificial conditions. And I havenât even started on the potential for bias. You know, age, gender, appearance, perceived enthusiasm... itâs a recipe for discrimination."
Opheliaâs eyes got big. "Oh no, Cheryl, are you telling me itâs like Tinder but for hiring? Swipe left if they look too tired? Swipe right if their lightingâs good?"
"Thatâs exactly what Iâm saying!" I exclaimed, flinging my pen down in frustration. "Weâre talking about hiring managers, âSwiping right if you like my face,â as if qualifications donât matter! They might as well call it âSugar Bossâ and be done with it."
Ophelia shuddered dramatically, and for once, I donât think sheâs exaggerating. âSo theyâve basically turned job applications into some dystopian dating app! âHi, Iâm Ophelia, a creative, adaptable professional, and in my free time, I enjoy reading and dismantling terrible hiring practices.ââ She crossed her arms and huffed. âIâd refuse. Thereâs no way Iâm talking to an empty room just so someone can swipe me away based on my camera angle. Cheryl, this is tragic! No oneâs going to feel good applying for a job like that. I wouldnât feel good applying for a job like that!"
I sighed and leaned back. "And thatâs the other side of it, Ophelia. Candidates have options these days. Theyâre not going to put up with nonsense that makes them feel like theyâre auditioning for some reality TV show rather than interviewing for a real job. And companies that rely on these One-Way Interviews are just pushing talented people away."
Ophelia looked thoughtful, tapping her claws together. "But what about the candidates who donât have as many options, Cheryl? The ones who might feel they HAVE to jump through those flaming hoops because they need a job that badly?"
"Itâs like adding insult to injury. Not only are they treating candidates like disposable numbers, but theyâre piling on stress for people who are already vulnerable, making them feel they need to perform like trained monkeys just to get a foot in the door for jobs that have nothing to do with sales, marketing, or acting. Itâs insane."
She flapped her wings in indignation. "And the worst part is, they probably think itâs efficient. Like, âOh, look at us, weâve automated and streamlined everything!â"
I nodded, feeling vindicated. âAnd think about what this says to candidates, Ophelia. One-way interviews send a message, loud and clear: âWe value efficiency over human connection. Youâre just another name on a screen, and weâre too busy to actually meet you.â Itâs no wonder people donât want to work for companies that use these tactics.â
Opheliaâs wings fluttered with frustration as she landed on my desk. âAnd they wonder why they canât find good talent! Iâll tell you what, Cheryl, if anyone asked me to do a one-way interview, Iâd tell them to go soak their heads in a cauldron.â
I laughed, despite my irritation. âYouâve got the right idea, Ophelia. Hiring is one of those areas where you absolutely need that human touch. Hiring should be about connecting with people, not reducing them to video clips and keywords. But thatâs where we areâusing automation for things that need the human touch."
Ophelia sighed dramatically, settling herself back onto my stack of files. "Sometimes I think humans try so hard to be efficient that they forget what theyâre actually supposed to be doing in the first place."
With a final huff, Ophelia picked up her scrolls, muttering under her breath. âOne-way interviewâŚhonestly, itâs like theyâre trying to scare off good people. Well, if they wonât say it, I will:
If you want great talent, treat people like people!
I watched her go, shaking my head and smiling. Leave it to Ophelia to cut straight to the heart of the matter.
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