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Rubén Andrés
WriterWriter at Xataka. I've been working remotely for more than a decade and I'm a strong advocate of technology as a way to improve our lives. Full-time addict of black, sugar-free coffee.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Finding a job has become an obstacle course. Candidates have always faced the challenge of finding vacancies suitable for their skills and knowledge and also competition from other candidates. However, in today’s landscape, there’s another issue: AI algorithms that filter applications before they reach human recruiters.
As a result, the use of AI tools in the job search process is becoming increasingly common. Ironically, Anthropic, a leading company in AI model development, has included the following warning in its job openings: “Please do not use AI assistants during the application process.”
The Irony of Anthropic: AI Without AI
Anthropic’s Claude AI model has contributed to the company achieving a valuation of $61.5 billion, making its founders millionaires. However, a key requirement for applicants is that they refrain from using AI chatbots when crafting their resumes.
The company recently raised $3.5 billion and is now preparing for expansion. This involves opening new job vacancies on its recruitment website.
When browsing these job openings, candidates will find a warning under one of the sections: “While we encourage people to use AI systems during their role to help them work faster and more effectively, please do not use AI assistants during the application process.”
The warning on one of Anthropic’s job postings.
This warning appears just below the “Why Anthropic?” question, where candidates need to respond in 200 to 400 words. It seems like a minor detail, but some candidates may feel tempted to use AI to formulate their answers.
“We want to be able to assess people’s genuine interest and motivations for working at Anthropic. By asking for candidates to not use AI to answer key questions, we’re looking for signals on what candidates value and their unique answers to why they want to work here”, an Anthropic spokesperson told Fortune.
The warning message itself says that this approach is intended to “evaluate [the candidate’s] non-AI-assisted communication skills” and to understand the actual reasons behind their desire to work at Anthropic.
AI as an Assistant, Not an Employee
The use of AI tools in the recruitment process has become commonplace for both companies and candidates. It’s like using a computer to write your resume or a spellchecker to review a cover letter before submission.
Kathleen Nolan, a senior recruiter at tech company GrowthLoop, supports the use of AI to help tailor candidates’ resumes and streamline application submissions. “Everyone uses AI for things like this. It really doesn’t matter. If you’re using AI in the right way, no one’s going to be able to tell,” Nolan said.
However, despite being ironic, Anthropic’s request makes sense. The company’s priority in finding new employees isn’t solely about identifying the most qualified candidates, but rather the most dedicated. In fact, its job openings page encourages candidates to submit an application “regardless of your background or experience.”
The skills-based approach to hiring aligns with a growing trend among tech giants that emphasizes the importance of soft skills, engagement, attitude, and adaptability over academic qualifications.
A 2024 survey revealed that 57% of recruiters consider the “Hobbies & Interests” section to be one of the top three most important parts of a resume. Additionally, 43% of recruiters said that they don’t require a degree from a prestigious institution to consider a candidate.
Image | Luke Southern
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