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 hurry…
(Skip this for the story.)
Swiping Left on Talent: Why One-Way Interviews Are Sabotaging Your Hiring Process
In the latest trend in hiring, companies are introducing “one-way interviews”—asking candidates to record video responses to questions with no real human interaction. Here’s why this approach might be costing you the very talent you’re hoping to attract:
Dehumanizing and Awkward: Candidates are asked to speak to a camera without real-time feedback, creating an unnatural, uncomfortable experience that’s 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
“Are you kidding me? A one-way interview? They want people to sit in front of a camera, alone, and just…talk to it? No human interaction, no conversation, just applicants recording themselves answering questions for a job application. What kind of soulless nonsense is this?”
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?"
“Oh, 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 I’m 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 that’s supposed to magically find the perfect human with the power of ‘fake-intuition’ or whatever.” She rolled her eyes. "As if a machine can just zap and know if someone’s going to fit in at a company. What’s next? Are they going to program an app to ‘feel out’ people’s vibes?”
"They might as well, this is just as bad. In this latest nightmare in hiring practices—companies are asking candidates to record ‘one-way interviews,’ where they talk to a camera like they’re 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 someone’s confidence? What are they trying to prove—that 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 there’s no one there to even smile or nod in response. It's dehumanizing, awkward, and—let's be honest—ineffective. You’d think hiring managers would realize that the ability to make eye contact or gauge someone’s reaction might, oh, I don’t 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 smile—you know, that smile you’d 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!”
She sighed and shook her head, “I thought, ‘Alright, just act casual.’ 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. “I didn’t 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 that’s just me promoting a mug!"
Ophelia threw her arms in the air, sighing in defeat. “And 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 there’s 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, and—let's be honest—ineffective. You’d think hiring managers would realize that the ability to make eye contact or gauge someone’s reaction might, oh, I don’t know, be somewhat important in hiring a human being! They’ve 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?"
Ophelia’s eyes go wide as she flutters into my office. “What 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? It’s like asking a troll to knit—completely irrelevant!”
“Yes! My thoughts, exactly!” I say, exasperated. “And that's not even the worst of it!"
Ophelia’s mouth fell open, her claws clutching her cheeks like she’d just discovered her favorite glitter stash had gone missing. "It gets worse?"
"Yes, it’s not just awkward—it’s unfair," I continued, feeling my blood pressure rising. "You’re judging a person’s entire character based on how well they perform under artificial conditions. And I haven’t even started on the potential for bias. You know, age, gender, appearance, perceived enthusiasm... it’s a recipe for discrimination."
Ophelia’s eyes got big. "Oh no, Cheryl, are you telling me it’s like Tinder but for hiring? Swipe left if they look too tired? Swipe right if their lighting’s good?"
"That’s exactly what I’m saying!" I exclaimed, flinging my pen down in frustration. "We’re talking about hiring managers, ‘Swiping right if you like my face,’ as if qualifications don’t matter! They might as well call it ‘Sugar Boss’ and be done with it."
Ophelia shuddered dramatically, and for once, I don’t think she’s exaggerating. “So they’ve basically turned job applications into some dystopian dating app! ‘Hi, I’m Ophelia, a creative, adaptable professional, and in my free time, I enjoy reading and dismantling terrible hiring practices.’” She crossed her arms and huffed. “I’d refuse. There’s no way I’m talking to an empty room just so someone can swipe me away based on my camera angle. Cheryl, this is tragic! No one’s going to feel good applying for a job like that. I wouldn’t feel good applying for a job like that!"
I sighed and leaned back. "And that’s the other side of it, Ophelia. Candidates have options these days. They’re not going to put up with nonsense that makes them feel like they’re 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 don’t 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?"
"It’s like adding insult to injury. Not only are they treating candidates like disposable numbers, but they’re 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. It’s insane."
She flapped her wings in indignation. "And the worst part is, they probably think it’s efficient. Like, ‘Oh, look at us, we’ve automated and streamlined everything!’"
I nodded, feeling vindicated. “And think about what this says to candidates, Ophelia. One-way interviews send a message, loud and clear: ‘We value efficiency over human connection. You’re just another name on a screen, and we’re too busy to actually meet you.’ It’s no wonder people don’t want to work for companies that use these tactics.”
Ophelia’s wings fluttered with frustration as she landed on my desk. “And they wonder why they can’t find good talent! I’ll tell you what, Cheryl, if anyone asked me to do a one-way interview, I’d tell them to go soak their heads in a cauldron.”
I laughed, despite my irritation. “You’ve 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 that’s where we are—using 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 they’re actually supposed to be doing in the first place."
With a final huff, Ophelia picked up her scrolls, muttering under her breath. “One-way interview…honestly, it’s like they’re trying to scare off good people. Well, if they won’t 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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