I place the world’s top software engineers and interviewed over 10,000 job seekers. The difference on paper and in person is wider than ever

A hiring professional who says they place the world’s top software engineers and have interviewed more than 10,000 job seekers is highlighting a widening gap between written applications and candidates’ performance in person.

The observation comes as hiring managers describe receiving large volumes of CVs produced with artificial intelligence. At the same time, job seekers have shared accounts of applying unsuccessfully for thousands of positions. Together, those experiences point to a recruitment environment increasingly shaped by scale rather than by a clear assessment of individual ability.

Applications are becoming harder to assess

CVs are intended to give employers a concise view of a candidate’s experience and qualifications. However, the spread of AI-generated applications can make it more difficult for hiring managers to determine how closely a document reflects the person behind it.

For applicants, submitting applications in high numbers has not necessarily translated into success. Reports of unsuccessful attempts across thousands of roles underline the difficulty of standing out in a crowded process.

The growing gap between paper and person

The hiring professional’s central conclusion is that the difference between how candidates appear on paper and how they perform in person is wider than ever. That makes interviews and other direct interactions especially important in judging whether an application represents a candidate accurately.

The accounts do not establish how widespread these experiences are, but they capture a clear tension in modern recruitment: more applications do not automatically produce better matches between employers and job seekers.