PHILADELPHIA, PA — Phenom has released its 2025 State of Candidate Experience Benchmarks Report, revealing critical gaps in the adoption of AI and automation by the Fortune 500 to enhance candidates’ career site experiences. Despite increased investments, the report finds that many companies fail to meet job seekers’ rising demand for hyper-personalized, intuitive digital journeys.
The report, based on an analysis of Fortune 500 career sites, identified that 87% of companies do not utilize AI or automation to deliver tailored experiences. Additionally, 88% fail to recommend roles based on current skills or job titles, and 83% lack chatbots that provide job suggestions. John Harrington, Sr. Director of Product Marketing at Phenom, stated, “There is a clear divide between companies experimenting with AI and those truly harnessing its power to accelerate talent acquisition processes and transform candidate engagement through hyper-personalization. Those who resist this evolution won’t just fall behind; they’ll become irrelevant in a market where efficiency and speed directly determine viability.”
Today’s job seekers increasingly expect personal, consumer-grade interactions with career sites. A survey conducted by Phenom in partnership with The Harris Poll shows that nearly half of American job seekers aged 18–34 want a career site that learns their preferences and mirrors the algorithmic finesse of platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Yet, the lack of AI-driven personalization remains a critical roadblock.
Companies Leading the Way
While the report reveals significant gaps, it also highlights how leading companies are leveraging AI and automation to improve hiring workflows and candidate engagement.
“At Land O’Lakes, we’ve been able to customize and personalize our candidate experience,” said Laura Schmidt, Talent Marketing Consultant. “We added day-in-the-life videos to manufacturing job pages and saw an increase in application rates. We’re also gaining efficiencies through automation, enabling recruiters to focus on connecting with candidates rather than manual tasks.”
Regions Bank has similarly transformed its approach. “We created a dynamic career site that empowers candidates to go on their own journeys,” said Scott Ewert, SVP, Talent Acquisition. “Highlighting job categories and creating custom landing pages with relevant openings have made the experience seamless.”
Grant Smith, Global Recruitment Marketing Specialist at TD SYNNEX, emphasized the value of a tailored content strategy, stating, “Creating a unified candidate journey has empowered us to proactively answer questions, increase brand awareness, and showcase why TD SYNNEX is a great place to grow a career.”
Key Recommendations
Phenom’s report outlines actionable strategies for businesses to address these gaps and meet modern job seekers’ expectations.
- Deliver Hyper-Personalized Experiences: Companies should leverage AI to suggest relevant roles and content based on candidates’ skills, preferences, and experience.
- Enable Skills-Focused Navigation: Career sites must highlight transferable skills instead of limiting pathways to traditional job titles.
- Invest in AI-Powered Tools: Deploy conversational AI and automation to provide 24/7 assistance, recommend roles, and streamline application processes.
The Fortune 500 companies leveraging these tools are seeing measurable benefits, including faster hiring, higher quality applications, and stronger employer branding.
“Organizations can automate up to 90% of hiring workflows while significantly enhancing candidate experiences,” Harrington remarked. “AI-driven recruitment isn’t just an advantage anymore; it’s essential for survival.”
Through data-driven insights and technological advancements, Phenom’s report underscores the urgent need for companies to prioritize personalization and automation to address today’s competitive hiring landscape.
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