Trust in Recruitment. The System Needs an Overhaul. | Batje's Take #13 | HUMHR Career Insights
172 job applications. 3 responses. I shared that story and the comments came flooding in — not with surprise, but with recognition. Same story. Different country. Different industry. Same silence. In Batje’s Take #13, Batje Chibafa, Certified Professional Career Coach and Founder of HUMHR, makes the case that trust in recruitment is broken — and that the Applicant Tracking System is at the centre of it. Not because it manages volume, but because it removes the human from the most important moment in the process. She also draws a clear line on AI: using it to prepare for an interview is being deliberate. Using it during the interview, to feed you answers in real time, is misrepresentation. Both sides hiding behind technology will not rebuild trust. This is a short, solo reflection on what a genuine overhaul of the recruitment system would look like — and what job seekers and hiring teams can do right now. HUMHR Career Insights is hosted by Batje Chibafa, Certified Professional Career Coach and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. Listeners in 20+ countries.
I posted a reel about 172 job applications and 3 responses. The comments did not say "wow." They said "me too." Person after person. Different country. Different industry. Same silence.
When that many people recognise themselves in one experience, you are not looking at a bad day. You are looking at a broken system.
In this Batje's Take, I dig into the trust that has broken down between those who are hiring and those who are being hired — and what it will actually take to fix it.
What I cover:
- Why the ATS is not an efficiency tool. It is a silence machine.
- Is AI interviewing innovation, or is it the same problem at a higher speed?
- The difference between using AI to prepare for an interview and using AI during one. One is smart. One is misrepresentation.
- What the Readiness Room at HUMHR is built on.
- What a real recruitment overhaul looks like.
If you have been screened out, ghosted, or went through a full process and heard nothing — this one is for you. And if you work in HR or talent acquisition — this one is especially for you.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Visit humhr.org to book a conversation or join the Readiness Room.