Tony Tellez: AI Rejects His Application in 6 Minutes, He Responds

⚡

Key Takeaways

1Tony Tellez, 49, had his application rejected in six minutes, suspecting AI involvement.

2With 17 years of experience, Tellez reached out to the HR director for a manual review.

3The incident drives Tellez to target companies that promise a human review of resumes.

💡Why it matters — The automation of recruitment can exclude qualified candidates, raising questions about the fairness of hiring processes.

A Rejected Application in Record Time

Tony Tellez, a 49-year-old IT professional residing in Indianapolis, recently experienced a frustrating moment in his job search. After applying for a position on a Sunday evening, he received a rejection email just six minutes after submitting his application. Convinced that this swift rejection was due to an automated system, Tellez expressed his concerns about the use of AI in the candidate selection process. He explained to the company's HR manager that AI was eliminating qualified candidates.

Career Path and Return to the Job Market

Starting his career in an entry-level position, Tellez climbed the ranks to lead IT companies in the managed services sector, overseeing IT operations for multiple clients. After ten years of professional stability, he finds himself back in the job market. Although he has secured a few interviews, he has also faced numerous rejections, a situation made even more stressful by the fact that he has children, rent, and pets to support.

A Rejection Without Explanation

The position Tellez applied for did not strictly require a bachelor's degree, although it was preferred. His resume, optimized with the help of a friend who is an HR consultant and tested on an open-source applicant tracking system, seemed well-prepared. Despite this, the rejection came without explanation, prompting Tellez to take action.

A Proactive Approach

Determined to understand what had happened, Tellez reached out to the company's HR director via LinkedIn. In his message, he highlighted his 17 years of experience, particularly in the healthcare and laboratory sectors, and requested a manual reevaluation of his resume. He emphasized that his last six years had been dedicated to managing operations and service delivery. Tellez expressed his concern that the AI used by the company was rejecting him due to the lack of a bachelor's degree. Having developed applicant tracking systems himself, Tellez voiced his worries about the impact of AI on his application.

Adaptation and New Strategies

Although he did not receive a response, Tellez remains undeterred. The job posting is no longer online, so he does not know if the position has been filled. He continues to adapt his resume to better align with automated systems and is now targeting companies that guarantee a human review of applications. Having been responsible for recruitment in his previous roles, he understands the importance of reading each resume. This incident highlights for him the rapid evolution of the job market and the challenges posed by automation. Tellez is determined not to retire anytime soon, as he enjoys working and solving problems.