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Human + algorithmic judgment/4 min read/Direct sources linked

What recruiters trust and what they follow

In a resume-screening experiment, recruiters said they trusted human advice more. Their choices told a more complicated story.

What people said versus what they did

This was not a study of trust recovering after repeated mistakes. It compared recommendations from a human expert and a fictional algorithmic decision-support system, including recommendations that favored the less-suitable resume.1

The result was not simple algorithm aversion

Participants reviewed two resume summaries for an HR manager role. They received either no recommendation or a recommendation from a human expert or algorithmic system; some recommendations favored the less-suitable candidate. Recruiters trusted the human source more, but the inconsistent algorithm still affected their evaluations.1

That gap matters. Stated skepticism is not the same as resistance in the moment. A tool can look less trustworthy and still change a decision.1

A resume tool should explain its recommendations so you can check them. Trusting a tool less does not necessarily protect you from following a weak suggestion.

What this means in practice

Our advice: compare a suggested change with the original resume and the job you want. Keep it only if it makes your experience clearer without adding facts or overstating your contribution.

Common questions

Does this mean scores are useless?

No. A score is useful only when you can see what drove it and what to change. It is a starting point for the review, not objective truth.

How should candidates respond?

Make your evidence easy to inspect: clear role context, specific ownership, supportable outcomes, and no claims you cannot defend.

How this shows up in your report

01

A score you can question

A number is useful only when you can trace it back to the resume and the criteria. It cannot stand in for an employer's decision.

02

Check the recommendation

We quote the resume behind each recommendation. Compare the advice with what you actually did before accepting it.

Sources and related research

Apply it to your resume

Find out where your resume needs more detail.

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