A surge in job applications is creating unexpected challenges for employers, with 93% reporting difficulty identifying standout candidates despite increased choice on paper.
Research from recruitment agency Robert Half shows 82% of Australian employers have seen a rise in overqualified applicants in the past year, while high application volumes and AI-generated CVs are making quality assessment increasingly difficult.
The overqualification challenge
Technology hiring managers (87%) report the highest number of overqualified applicants, compared to 82% in finance and accounting, and 73% in human resources.
“There’s been a noticeable increase in candidates applying for roles below their experience level,” says Nicole Gorton, director at Robert Half.
“But overqualification isn’t necessarily a win. If the role underutilises their skills, both engagement and retention can suffer.”
Key hiring obstacles
Employers cite several challenges in identifying top applicants:
- High application volumes making thorough review difficult (37%)
- AI-generated CVs hampering quality assessment (37%)
- Candidates lacking tailored, role-specific skills (35%)
- Limited visibility into soft skills or cultural fit (31%)
- Generic CVs that don’t highlight unique strengths (29%)
- Overqualification or mismatched experience levels (28%)
What makes candidates stand out
The top qualities that help applicants cut through the volume include:
- Demonstrated, relevant experience tailored to the role (33%)
- Clear, concise communication in application materials (33%)
- Evidence of adaptability or problem-solving skills (33%)
- Strong alignment with company values or culture (31%)
- Professional presentation and attention to detail (29%)
- Unique achievements or career story (27%)
- Understanding of the company or industry (27%)
Supporting recruitment strategy
For EAs involved in recruitment processes, the research highlights the importance of helping hiring managers focus on role-specific experience, problem-solving capabilities and cultural alignment rather than being overwhelmed by application volume.
Gorton notes that “uniform formatting, templated language and AI-generated content often blur differences between applicants, making it more challenging to evaluate genuine skills and suitability.”
Understanding these hiring challenges can help EAs better support recruitment decisions and manage stakeholder expectations during the selection process.
