Employers think their interviews are going well. Candidates do not. A report from Textio and research firm Kyle & Co, released on October 14, found employers scored their own interview process at +48.25 on a standard recommendation scale, while candidates rated the process they had just been through at +2.87. Job seekers were eight times more likely to rate the process poorly.
Key takeaways
- Employers score their process +48.25; candidates score it +2.87.
- 48 percent of candidates said their last interview process felt at least partly improvised.
- 90 percent of organisations say ghosting is rare or never happens; 57 percent of job seekers say it has happened to them.
- 39 percent of job seekers say they have been wrongly suspected of cheating or misrepresenting themselves.
What did the report find?
The gap shows up at almost every stage. Most talent leaders (81 percent) said rejected finalists always or usually get personalised feedback. Yet 57 percent of candidates said they got a template line, no feedback or no reply. According to coverage of the report, 88 percent of employers describe their interviews as structured and consistent, compared with 51 percent of candidates.
Candidates mostly judge an employer on how the process was run. Two thirds said fairness, consistency and communication matter most. Fewer than 6 percent said the main thing is whether they got the job.
What about AI cheating?
Talent leaders rated their interviewers 8.1 out of 10 at spotting live AI help during interviews. But 39 percent of job seekers said they had been wrongly suspected of cheating or misrepresenting themselves. The Globe and Mail noted that candidates now face confusing rules about AI use on top of multiple rounds and employers who stop responding.
Who is affected?
Anyone in an active job search. The survey covered 257 employers and 174 job seekers, almost all in the US, so it is a snapshot rather than a census. Still, it matches other 2026 research showing high levels of ghosting and frustration. Employers have a reason to care too: 35 percent of candidates said a bad process would make them stop buying from the company.
What should job seekers do now?
- Ask at the start how many rounds there are, who you will meet and when you will hear back.
- Ask whether AI tools are used and what is allowed for candidates.
- If you are accused of using AI, stay calm and offer to walk through your answer or work in more detail.
- Send a short follow-up after each stage. Our follow-up email guide has templates.
- Prepare with our list of common interview questions.
What happens next?
Most employers already record interviews with software, but few check that data against how hires perform. Expect more structured interviews and clearer AI policies as employers respond to reports like this one.
Sources: Textio and Kyle & Co via Business Wire, 14 October 2026; The Globe and Mail, 18 October 2026.
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