Work & OperationsDone with custom-built or unnamed agent Aug 19, 2025
Contact job candidates for initial HR screening
A job seeker reports an AI agent calling and emailing them for a first HR screening.
- What They Did
- The post describes a company using an automated recruiter that first emailed from a generic recruiting address, then placed a phone call that immediately launched into a scripted screening once the candidate answered. The candidate hung up rather than continue with the bot, and commenters added that some employers are already using similar AI screeners to ask the first-round questions before any human speaks with applicants.
- How It Went
- The source gives no hiring success numbers; the clear outcome was negative candidate reaction, with the poster refusing the call and many commenters saying this approach drives people away. One commenter said their company uses AI screeners, but the thread mostly highlights frustration rather than proven results.
- Worth Knowing
- The practical catch is that even this first contact felt impersonal enough that the candidate hung up, so drop-off at the very first screening step is a real risk.
Try it yourself with custom-built or unnamed agent
Build me an assistant that, when a new applicant arrives for [job title] in [where applications come in], emails them to offer a time for a first HR screening using my calendar availability: [days and hours]. Include 3 to 5 standard screening questions: [questions]. Show me each email draft and ask for my approval before anything is sent; finished means the applicant has a confirmed slot and their answers are logged in [sheet or tool].