Our ATS added an "AI-Powered Candidate Matching" feature.

The promise: Upload a job description, and the AI automatically finds the best candidates from your database, LinkedIn, and "the broader talent market."

The pitch: "Stop manually searching for candidates. Let AI surface hidden gems you would've missed."

We were hiring a Senior HR Manager. Needed someone with 7+ years of experience, SHRM certification, employment law knowledge, and the ability to build HR systems from scratch.

I clicked "Find Candidates" and let the AI do its thing.

The AI's Top Recommendation: A LinkedIn Influencer With 487,000 Followers And Zero HR Experience

Candidate #1: Chad Thompson

Why the AI recommended him: "95% match based on leadership skills, communication ability, and industry relevance."

I opened Chad's profile.

His headline: "Helping 1M+ Professionals Unlock Their Potential | 3X TEDx Speaker | Leadership Coach | DM me 'MOMENTUM' for my free 5-day challenge"

His experience:

• 2023-Present: Founder & CEO, Chad Thompson Coaching

  • "Empowering leaders to break through limiting beliefs"
  • "Delivered transformational workshops to 10,000+ participants"
  • "Grew Instagram following to 400K+ through authentic storytelling"

• 2020-2023: Leadership Consultant, Self-Employed

  • "Helped executives discover their 'why'"
  • "Facilitated mindset shifts for Fortune 500 clients"

• 2018-2020: Sales Associate, Verizon

  • "Exceeded sales targets by 30%"
  • "Developed strong customer relationships"

His education: Bachelor's degree in Communications.

His skills (according to LinkedIn): Public Speaking, Personal Branding, Storytelling, Motivation, Authenticity, Energy Management.

His HR experience: Zero.

His SHRM certification: No.

His knowledge of employment law: Unclear, but his most recent LinkedIn post was "5 Ways To Manifest Your Dream Job Using The Law Of Attraction."

Me: "Why did the AI recommend this person?"

AI: "Chad demonstrates strong leadership, communication, and people skills—key attributes for an HR Manager role."

Me: "He's never worked in HR."

AI: "Transferable skills analysis indicates a 95% compatibility match."

Me: "What does that mean?"

AI: "Chad's background in coaching, leadership, and organizational development aligns with HR competencies."

Me: "He sells Instagram courses."

AI: "Would you like me to send Chad an interview invitation?"

Me: "No."

AI: "Interview invitation sent."

Me: "I SAID NO."

The AI's Second Recommendation: A Life Coach Who Thinks HR Stands For 'Heart-Resonance'

Candidate #2: Melissa Brighter

Why the AI recommended her: "92% match based on people-first leadership philosophy and holistic approach to talent management."

Her headline: "Life Coach | Helping Women Lead With Heart | Certified Reiki Practitioner | Your energy introduces you before you even speak ✨"

Her experience:

• 2021-Present: Founder, Brighter Path Coaching

  • "Guide women through career transitions using intuitive coaching"
  • "Specialize in aligning career choices with soul purpose"
  • "Host monthly full moon intention-setting ceremonies"

• 2019-2021: Wellness Coordinator, Yoga Studio

  • "Created transformational workshops on self-love and boundaries"
  • "Managed studio social media presence"

• 2016-2019: Administrative Assistant, Real Estate Office

  • "Provided administrative support to 3 agents"
  • "Organized client appreciation events"

Her education: Certificate in Life Coaching (6-week online program).

Her LinkedIn posts (recent):

• "HR isn't about policies—it's about HEART-RESONANCE. Are you leading from the heart?"
• "Your employees don't need performance reviews. They need to feel SEEN."
• "Forget KPIs. The only metric that matters is JOY."

Me: "This person thinks HR stands for 'Heart-Resonance.'"

AI: "Melissa's people-centered philosophy aligns with modern HR best practices."

Me: "She has no HR experience. She teaches yoga."

AI: "Wellness programs are a key component of employee engagement strategies."

Me: "We need someone who understands employment law, not chakras."

AI: "Would you like me to schedule Melissa for an interview?"

Me: "Absolutely not."

AI: "Interview invitation sent."

The AI's Third Recommendation: My Neighbor's 19-Year-Old Son

Candidate #3: Tyler Martinez

Why the AI recommended him: "89% match based on strong educational background and emerging talent potential."

I stared at the screen.

Tyler lives three doors down from me. He's 19. He's in college. I've seen him mow lawns.

His LinkedIn profile:

Headline: "Business Student | Aspiring Entrepreneur | Passionate About Innovation"

Experience:

• 2024-Present: Social Media Intern, Local Coffee Shop

  • "Managed Instagram account (150 followers)"
  • "Created content highlighting daily specials"

• 2022-2024: Cashier, Target

  • "Provided excellent customer service"
  • "Operated cash register efficiently"

Education: Currently enrolled, Junior year, Business Administration major.

His LinkedIn activity: He "liked" 3 posts about HR in the past month (all from Chad Thompson).

Me: "This is my neighbor's kid. He's 19."

AI: "Tyler demonstrates strong foundational skills and growth potential. Early-career talent can bring fresh perspectives to HR leadership."

Me: "He's never had an HR job. He works at a coffee shop."

AI: "Internship experience is valuable. Tyler's social media skills could enhance employer branding initiatives."

Me: "We're hiring a SENIOR HR MANAGER. Not an intern."

AI: "Would you like me to send Tyler an interview invitation?"

Me: "If you send Tyler an interview invitation, I'm deleting this ATS."

AI: "Interview invitation sent."

I closed my laptop.

The Interviews Were A Disaster

Despite my protests, the AI had scheduled interviews with all three candidates.

I didn't have the energy to cancel them. So I showed up.

Interview #1: Chad Thompson, LinkedIn Influencer

Me: "Thanks for joining. Tell me about your HR experience."

Chad: "I don't have traditional HR experience, but I've worked with thousands of professionals, helping them unlock their potential. HR isn't about policies—it's about PEOPLE. And I'm a people person."

Me: "Have you ever handled an employment law issue? Terminations? FMLA requests?"

Chad: "Not directly, but I've coached executives through difficult conversations. It's all about energy and intention."

Me: "We need someone who understands compliance."

Chad: "Compliance is a mindset. If you lead from authenticity, compliance happens naturally."

Me: "That's not how employment law works."

Chad: "I sense resistance. Can I share a quick story about how I helped a CEO overcome resistance?"

Me: "No. Thank you for your time."

Chad: "Before I go—would you be interested in my 5-day 'Leadership Momentum' challenge? I'm offering a special rate for HR professionals."

Me: "No. Goodbye."

Interview #2: Melissa Brighter, Life Coach

Me: "Tell me about your HR background."

Melissa: "I don't have a traditional HR background, but I believe HR is evolving beyond policies and procedures. It's about creating heart-centered workplaces where people feel SEEN."

Me: "Have you ever managed benefits administration? Payroll? Compliance?"

Melissa: "Not in a corporate setting, but I've helped clients navigate career transitions using intuitive guidance. I think HR needs more intuition and less structure."

Me: "We need someone who can build HR systems. That requires structure."

Melissa: "What if I told you the structure you're looking for is actually blocking the flow of creativity and joy in your organization?"

Me: "I'd say that's not helpful."

Melissa: "I'm sensing a lot of masculine energy in your approach. Have you considered incorporating more feminine, heart-based leadership?"

Me: "We need someone with SHRM certification and employment law knowledge."

Melissa: "Certifications are just external validations. True HR mastery comes from within."

Me: "Thank you for your time."

Melissa: "I'm offering a free 30-minute heart-alignment session if you'd like to explore this further."

Me: "I'm good. Thanks."

Interview #3: Tyler Martinez, My Neighbor's Kid

Me: "Tyler. Hi."

Tyler: "Oh, hey! I didn't know YOU were the recruiter. This is so cool!"

Me: "Tyler, why did you apply for a Senior HR Manager role?"

Tyler: "I didn't. I got an email inviting me to interview, and I thought it'd be good experience."

Me: "You're 19. You're in college. You work at a coffee shop."

Tyler: "Yeah, I know this is kind of weird. But I figured I'd show up and see what HR interviews are like. Is that okay?"

Me: "Tyler, this role requires 7+ years of experience."

Tyler: "Oh. The email said I was a '89% match.' I thought that meant I was qualified."

Me: "The AI made a mistake."

Tyler: "That makes way more sense. Sorry for wasting your time."

Me: "It's fine. How's school?"

Tyler: "Good! I'm thinking about majoring in marketing."

Me: "That's great. When you graduate, come talk to me. We might have entry-level roles."

Tyler: "Cool! Thanks!"

He left.

I immediately opened a support ticket with our ATS.

The ATS Vendor's Response Was Not Reassuring

Me: "Your AI recommended a LinkedIn influencer, a life coach, and my teenage neighbor for a Senior HR Manager role. What happened?"

Support: "Our AI uses advanced natural language processing to analyze candidate profiles and match them to job requirements based on skills, experience, and cultural fit."

Me: "None of these people have HR experience."

Support: "The AI prioritizes transferable skills and growth potential, not just traditional experience."

Me: "We need someone who can do the job NOW. Not someone with 'growth potential.'"

Support: "Have you tried adjusting the AI's weighting parameters? You can prioritize hard skills over soft skills in the settings."

Me: "There are settings?"

Support: "Yes. By default, the AI weights 'cultural fit' and 'soft skills' at 70%, and 'technical skills' at 30%."

Me: "That's backwards."

Support: "It's optimized for modern, people-first hiring practices."

Me: "It recommended my neighbor's teenager."

Support: "The AI is learning. You can provide feedback by rating each candidate recommendation."

Me: "I rated them all 1 star."

Support: "Thank you. The AI will adjust its recommendations accordingly."

Narrator: It did not adjust.

I Turned Off The AI Matching Feature

I went into settings.

Switched off: "AI-Powered Candidate Matching."

Switched on: "Manual candidate search."

And then I found a qualified HR Manager candidate the old-fashioned way: by reading resumes and looking for actual HR experience.

It took me 3 hours.

But I hired someone who:

• Had 10 years of HR experience
• Was SHRM-certified
• Understood employment law
• Did not try to sell me a coaching program

The Bottom Line

AI candidate matching tools promise to find "hidden gems."

What they actually do:

• Surface LinkedIn influencers with zero relevant experience
• Recommend life coaches who think "HR" stands for "heart-resonance"
• Invite your teenage neighbor to senior-level interviews

Should you use AI matching?

Maybe. But:

• Check the settings (default settings are usually terrible)
• Review AI recommendations before sending interview invites
• Don't let AI replace basic common sense

And if your AI recommends your neighbor's kid for a senior role, turn it off immediately.

Tyler was a nice kid. But he wasn't qualified to manage HR.

(Though honestly, he interviewed better than Chad.)