UK civil service plans hiring changes over AI-written applications
Flagship recruitment schemes could return to mandatory in-person interviews, while personal statements would play a smaller role.
More interviews would take place in person under UK civil service plans to respond to a surge in AI-written applications, a government official said. Recruiters also plan to reduce their reliance on candidates’ personal statements.
The official, who knew about the discussions but lacked authorisation to speak publicly, said each vacancy was attracting sharply more applications without an increase in viable candidates overall. Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo believes AI enables people to submit generic statements for more vacancies without showing their own skills.
Suspicions have extended beyond written submissions to possible bot-generated participants in video interviews, the official said. At least one interview was cut short because civil servants questioned whether they were speaking to a real person. Mandatory attendance in person is being considered for flagship hiring schemes.
The proposals are likely to feature in Romeo’s Whitehall review, which is due with Prime Minister Andy Burnham by summer 2027. She has proposed simplifying recruitment and abolishing the existing “success profiles” system. Its replacement framework is scheduled for introduction from April 2027.
Dave Penman, who leads the First Division Association union representing senior civil servants, said suspected AI-written applications to the union had also increased. He warned that such concerns did not establish that recruitment was broken or that every applicant was faking their submission.
