“No-phone generation” reshaping hiring, C&P Recruitment says

C&P Recruitment has warned employers are having to adapt their hiring processes as more young candidates avoid phone calls, rely on AI-generated CVs and, in some cases, attend interviews with their parents.

The Scottish recruiter said the rise of what it describes as the “no-phone generation” is making it harder for employers to assess candidates before interview.

The recruiter, which works with construction, engineering and property employers across Scotland, said its consultants are increasingly encountering candidates who communicate exclusively by text, ignore voicemail messages and are reluctant to engage over the phone.

The company also reported seeing parents contact recruiters on behalf of adult children and occasionally accompany them to interviews, while AI-written CVs are making it more difficult to understand candidates’ personalities and motivations.

Its comments follow recent debate over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology in recruitment, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling on employers to reconsider their reliance on video interviews and AI screening tools.

C&P Recruitment also cited research from iD Mobile and Mental Health UK, published in May, which found 51% of Britons experience some level of anxiety when making or receiving phone calls.

Donald Wynn, managing director of C&P Recruitment, said: “We’ve reached a point where some young candidates simply won’t answer the phone.

“Andy Burnham is right that a young person can’t show you much through a screen, and he’s right about AI-written CVs. But from our perspective, the challenge starts even earlier.