Talent News Round-Up: Hiring Benchmark, Deepfakes, and Resume Gaps
Staying updated on the latest workforce trends is crucial for TA leaders and HR professionals. This week, we delve into three significant developments shaping the talent landscape and get SocialTalent CEO, Johnny Campbell’s first-hand takes on these pieces.
- HackaJob: Demand for AI talent is soaring, and hiring success now hinges on offering technical challenges, remote options, and flexible strategies.
- Fortune: Deepfake candidates are infiltrating video interviews—raising new red flags for recruiters in an AI-driven hiring world.
- HBR: Resume gaps still hurt executive candidates, with salary penalties persisting unless the narrative is carefully managed.
Join us as we explore these pivotal insights and their implications for the future of work.
1. The 2025 AI Hiring Benchmark Report
Source: HackaJob
The 2025 AI Hiring Benchmark Report reveals how the rapid evolution of AI/ML is reshaping hiring practices. As demand for AI talent skyrockets, companies must adapt to attract top candidates who value technical challenges, project impact, and flexible work models. Key findings highlight the rise of specialized roles like Prompt Engineers and the dominance of Python as a core skill. To stay competitive, employers need transparent, flexible, and innovative hiring strategies that align with the evolving AI landscape.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“If you’re in the business of hiring AI or ML folks, this report is a must read! Most interestingly, candidates with AI skills are most attracted to the challenge of the role itself, not the employer. Also, considering how most AI roles are hybrid or remote, there are significant opportunities in hiring in the UK or India where salaries are much lower than the US.“
2. A Recruiter Agreed to Interview What Seemed Like a Desperate Job Candidate. Then She Realized it was a Deepfake
Source: Fortune
As deepfake technology becomes more advanced, recruiters face a new challenge: fake candidates using AI-generated video filters during interviews. Bettina Liporazzi, a recruiting lead at Make, recently encountered a suspicious candidate whose video showed unnatural facial movements—signs of a deepfake. After asking the candidate to wave their hand, they abruptly left the call. With deepfake job scams on the rise, especially in remote tech roles, experts advise recruiters to stay vigilant and watch for red flags during virtual interviews.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“This is scary stuff and very, very real. I am increasingly hearing stories of “fake” candidates interviewing or even being hired by organizations. This is indeed “the new normal” and recruiters will need to find new ways to identify AI applications and candidates.“
3. How Costly is a Resume Gap for Executives?
Source: HBR
The article explores the lingering negative impact of career breaks, even as attitudes shift towards greater empathy post-pandemic. Despite some employers becoming more understanding, data shows that executives with resume gaps still experience lower salary increases compared to those without gaps—particularly in public companies and large firms. However, controlling the narrative and enhancing one’s digital professional profile can slightly mitigate the negative effects, highlighting the importance of proactive career storytelling.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“I love the data driven approach taken here to prove something that most recruiters instinctively know; hiring managers do not like to see a gap in someone’s resume! Always be working! That’s always been my advice to candidates, even if that means volunteering with a charity or not for profit.“