As if finding a job wasn’t hard enough already, Texans have to contend with the fact that their job market competitors could be AI-generated bots. A background screening expert is sounding the alarm over a growing trend in the 2025 hiring landscape: job applications that are increasingly coming from bots.
Matthew J. Rodgers, President of iprospectcheck, a backgroundscreening provider, says that a sharp rise in what he describes as ‘synthetic candidates’ is making it harder than ever for Texas employers to identify legitimate applicants. AI bots could be writing resumes, providing fake interview and blanketing the job market with mass-submission tools.
“ We’re seeing an explosion of what I’d call ‘Frankencandidates’ - profiles that look polished on paper but fall apart under scrutiny,” said Rodgers. “ Some are built entirely by AI, others are the result of desperate job seekers using automation tools just to stay in the race. Either way, it’s creating real challenges for hiring teams.”
Rodgers urges businesses to stay vigilant and update their hiring protocols to focus on qualified candidates.
“ Recruiters are under immense pressure to fill roles quickly,” Rodgers said. “ But skipping the basics -like identity checks or verifying previous employment leaves companies wide open to risk. In 2025, trusting your gut isn’t enough. You need evidence.”
Hiring managers should be on the lookout for resumes which are overly generic and improbable career timelines, such as career advancement from the mail room to CEO within two years. Rodgers also recommends crossreferencing official documents.
“ Technology is not the enemy,” he concluded. “ But it does mean the burden of proof is higher. In a world full of bots, hiring a real human is something you can no longer take for granted.”
