Ex-MP Claims Biased AI Rejected Job Applications

David TC Davies, a former cabinet minister who lost his seat in the general election, claims that AI recruitment software automatically rejected his job applications due to his lack of a degree.

Davies, who served as Welsh Secretary in Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government, has called on employers to reconsider the role of AI in hiring processes. Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan and rank CVs, but there are concerns that such systems could filter out strong candidates.

The government has issued guidelines on the use of AI in recruitment, warning companies of the risk of bias or discrimination against applicants.

Davies, who left school at 16 and worked in his family’s haulage business before entering politics, applied for several degree-level jobs after the election but faced immediate rejections. He believes this was due to automated CV readers dismissing his lack of qualifications.

“I clearly didn’t stand a chance, as no human is reviewing the CVs,” he said. “If your CV is a bit unconventional, like mine, you’re automatically out.”

In one instance, he was asked to provide details of his last manager. When he wrote “Rishi Sunak” and “Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,” he was rejected. He humorously noted that sharing the former PM’s phone number might not have helped his case.

Davies, one of 175 Tory MPs who lost their seat last year, received a loss-of-office payment and support for job hunting. However, he noted that other former MPs, such as one who earned just £575 since the election, also struggled to find work.

Davies believes that using ATS to scan CVs risks overlooking talented individuals with unconventional backgrounds. He explained that his experience in the haulage business required “a PhD in common sense”—skills that ATS fails to recognize.

Now serving as chief of staff for the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Davies argued that companies relying on AI recruitment software may end up hiring people who fit a narrow template, missing out on a diverse range of talent.