But many unable to detect real from 'fake' headshots: survey
More than three in four recruiters in the United States have expressed a preference for AI-generated headshots over a real one in a test carried out by Ringover.
The poll presented 1,087 recruiters in the US with a line-up of headshots, including a real one, a mid-range AI-generated headshot, and a top-tier AI-generated headshot.
The findings revealed that 42% of recruiters prefer the top-range headshot, which cost $35 to generate.
Another 34.4% chose the mid-range AI headshot, which cost $9.99 to make, while only 23.5% chose the real headshot as their favourite.
Detecting AI headshots
The report also tested recruiters on whether they could detect AI-generated headshots by lining up four photos, which included three AI-generated ones and a real headshot.
Source: Ringover
More than half of recruiters were able to correctly guess the free AI-generated (58.9%) and real headshots (64.3%), according to Ringover.
Less than a third, on the other hand, were able to detect the top-range (29.2%) and mid-range (29.5%) AI-generated headshots.
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Source: Ringover
Importance of headshots
The findings come as 66.7% of recruiters find headshots helpful to put a face to a name, according to Ringover's poll.
In fact, the report found that 50% of recruiters would check a candidate's LinkedIn or other social media profiles to put a face to the name.
According to the recruiters, further benefits from headshots are that they:
- get a better feel for the character of the applicant (57.5%)
- make the candidate more memorable (39.7%)
- see if they would be a fit for the company (30.3%)
Two in three recruiters (67.5%) even said a bad picture will actively put them off.
In terms of using AI headshots, 66% said they would be put off by a candidate using one without disclosing it, as 88% believe applicants should make it clear if they're using an AI-generated headshot.