McDermott + Bull CEO Rod McDermott was recently featured in The Wall Street Journal article, “How to Navigate the Jungle of Online Job Postings” by Callum Borchers. The piece examines how companies are rethinking their hiring processes in response to the surge of AI-generated and low-quality job applications.
Employers are increasingly turning to creative strategies to find the right candidates, from returning to classified ads and niche job boards to adding deliberate hurdles in the application process. These measures are designed to prioritize quality over quantity, ensuring that the candidates who make it through are serious, qualified, and prepared.
Rod shared that, in conversations with HR leaders, stories of fraudulent candidates and exaggerated resumes are common — particularly in remote hiring. As he noted, “At industry events, human-resources professionals swap stories about hiring remote workers who faked their identities or oversold their abilities.” These same concerns came up again during the recent From Day One conference in New York City, where Rod and the Activate 180 team connected with HR leaders who echoed similar experiences with candidate fraud and misrepresentation.
These trends underscore the need for more intentional, human-centered approaches to recruiting — where personal connections and thorough vetting play a critical role. For job seekers, this shift may feel like a challenge, but it also opens opportunities for truly qualified professionals to stand out from the crowd by building relationships and showing initiative.
At McDermott + Bull, we partner with our clients to navigate this evolving hiring landscape with precision and insight. By combining deep industry expertise, targeted search strategies, and thorough vetting processes, we help organizations connect with exceptional leaders who align with both the role and the company’s culture, ensuring a lasting impact well beyond the hire.
Read the full article from The Wall Street Journal here.