Zoom interviews fail young job seekers: UK prime minister

Bosses should stop relying so heavily on virtual job interviews, Andy Burnham has said, arguing the format fails to capture candidates' personality and passion. 

"One thing I really don't like is this culture now of interviewing via Zoom or Teams," the prime minister told a careers podcast, asking: "How does a young person shine in that situation?"

The comments come as more than one million 16 to 25-year-olds sit outside work or education, with job vacancies at a five-year low.

Firms are increasingly turning to AI to filter applications and favouring online interviews over face-to-face meetings, a shift some young people have described to the BBC as "robotic and brutal" after applying to hundreds of roles without ever hearing back. 

LinkedIn data shows 89% of UK recruiters plan to lean on AI even more heavily in hiring this year.

Speaking to former political adviser Jimmy McLoughlin on his podcast, Jimmy's Jobs of the Future, Burnham said he doubted the growing reliance on technology was making recruitment fairer.

"How do you get over some of your personality, your passion?" he asked, arguing virtual formats favour candidates who give "formulaic answers" over those with genuine character. "I do worry about that, and I've seen that in relation to my kids and their situation."

More than one million of those aged between 16 and 25 do not receive any form of education, employment or training, a record number since over 12 years ago.

A report conducted by ex-minister Alan Milburn found that the prospects available to youngsters are "not growing, they are shrinking", adding that one out of every six might soon become jobless, unemployed or out of training in the next five years.

The Labour MP added that there was a "perfect storm" ahead for young adults, which might result in "a lost generation".

Burnham has indicated that businesses providing teenagers with six-week placements should receive priority when bidding for government contracts and that he intends to increase the duration of placements from 45 days so that youngsters aged between 16 and 18 can benefit from a better understanding of the workplace.