[FOR INTERNAL REVIEW] Sarah Bana - When Applying Costs Nothing

ECON OF WORK - Private feed for review · Nov 2, 2026 · 52m

AI has made applying for jobs almost free, which weakens one of the few signals employers had about who wants the role. LSE professor Sarah Bana explains how that is overwhelming hiring managers, why shared screening tools may make the same calls across many firms, and what job seekers and employers can do instead.

Topics covered:

• Why AI-written applications blur real interest and sheer volume

• Why resumes miss candidates who could grow into a role

• How a weekly team lunch helps new hires ask simple questions

• How vendors like HireVue can create algorithmic monoculture

• Why Bending…