Employment assessments have become vital tools for organizations seeking to evaluate candidates beyond résumés and interviews. These assessments aim to gauge a person’s actual skills, be they problem-solving, communication, or technical proficiency. These practices are critical as research shows that job simulations are the best predictors of eventual job performance.
However, as the tools for hiring evolve, so do the tools for cheating, and the need for immediate action is becoming increasingly urgent..The rise of generative AI, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, is reshaping how candidates approach skill-based tests, even in unethical ways.
When the Test Isn’t Really Testing You
Recent studies suggest that academic cheating using AI tools is already widespread. A 2023 Forbes article noted that 89% of students admitted to using ChatGPT for schoolwork, sparking widespread concern among educators. The article further showed that 48% of respondents had help accomplishing an at-home test or quiz, 53% writing an essay, and 22% creating an outline for a paper.
Moreover, 72% of college professors who are aware of ChatGPT are concerned about its impact on cheating. This statistic underscores a broader issue: if academic professionals are alarmed by the potential for dishonesty in controlled environments, hiring and talent acquisition teams should be equally vigilant. After all, these concerns are not confined to classrooms but extend into the workforce.
A growing number of job candidates are using AI to complete assessments, often without disclosing it. As a result, what’s supposed to measure actual ability becomes an indication of how effectively someone can delegate to a chatbot.
Cheating in Hiring Assessments: A Widespread Issue
The prevalence of cheating is not limited to academia. Studies have shown that 30% to 50% of candidates cheat during entry-level job assessments, with the number dropping to 10% to 25% for lateral job assessments. This trend indicates a pressing need for organizations to reassess their evaluation methods to ensure they accurately reflect a candidate’s true abilities.
The Role of AI in Facilitating Dishonesty
The integration of AI into the hiring process has introduced new challenges. Candidates now have access to advanced tools that can help them complete assessments, which sometimes leads to dishonest practices. For instance, a survey found that 57% of developers know someone who has cheated on a coding test during a job interview.
Moreover, another case saw 64% of candidates using ChatGPT during their hiring assessment and gaining an average 27% boost in scores compared to those who didn’t. The discrepancy creates a two-fold problem: an unfair edge for those willing to bend the rules and the risk of pushing out more qualified candidates who choose to follow them. For hiring managers, this can lead to costly mis-hires and erode trust in the assessment process altogether.
Evolving Assessment Practices: From Surveillance to Insight
While candidate/pre-employment assessment providers have started embedding proctoring features to detect suspicious behavior, such as tab switching, copy-pasting, or unusually fast response times, others incorporate timed video responses or spontaneous follow-up questions to confirm a candidate’s comprehension in real-time.
One company excelling in this new frontier is Canditech. After detecting that 64% of candidates were using ChatGPT during assessments, and those candidates outperformed their peers by an average of 27, Canditech introduced a suite of features aimed at preserving assessment integrity while enabling the use of AI within the assessment environment. The company uses behavior-sensitive tracking to identify when and how candidates might be relying on AI tools. This approach promotes transparency and establishes a tone of fairness rather than surveillance.
Since implementing these features, ChatGPT usage among candidates dropped from 64% to 2%. However, instead of banning generative AI outright, Canditech takes a nuanced approach, allowing employers to define when and where AI assistance is acceptable within the assessment. After all, technology isn’t framed as inherently unethical, but rather as something that should be used with intention and clarity.
AI as a Skill: Rethinking What We Assess
Canditech’s system allows employers to embed ChatGPT directly into the assessment environment. It’s not about banning AI outright, but rather understanding how a candidate might use it on the job. With this, hiring teams can evaluate a candidate’s raw knowledge and their ability to use tools like ChatGPT effectively, ethically, and creatively.
Moreover, this method shifts the purpose of the assessment. Instead of catching cheaters, it gathers richer, more contextual insights. Employers don’t learn if someone used AI; they learn how it was used. For instance, was it used to generate ideas, refine language, or automate repetitive tasks? These behaviors offer a more realistic preview of how the candidate might operate in a tech-enabled workplace.
Canditech reframes the role of AI in hiring. It’s not just about preventing dishonest use, but also about creating a space to assess real-world problem-solving and tech fluency in a controlled and transparent way. As Nir Dovrat, founding partner of Canditech, puts it: “Assessments should be designed to evaluate candidates’ holistic thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities. Cultural fit, cognitive and social skills, and growth potential should be the focus.”
Striking the Balance
We’re at a crossroads where technology is both the problem and the solution. AI can be used to cheat, but it can also detect, deter, and even redefine how we assess talent. The key lies in how transparently and ethically these systems are implemented.
The path forward may not be to fight AI but to design fair, clear, and truly effective assessments of the skills that matter.
The Path Forward
As the hiring landscape evolves, integrating advanced technologies and methodologies is essential to maintain the integrity of assessment processes. By understanding the challenges posed by AI and implementing comprehensive strategies, organizations can ensure fair and effective evaluations, leading to informed hiring decisions and a competent workforce.
