Hilton Gets 15,000 Applications for Early-Career Jobs as AI Fuels Hiring Frenzy: ‘Double-Edged Sword’

A glowing blue microchip with AI on it. (Credit: Image via Shutterstock)

Tanya Rawat

Tue, September 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM GMT+3 5 min read

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Hilton Hotels Corp. has received almost 15,000 applications for its 2027 early-career cohort, as AI tools allow job seekers to tailor resumes and apply for more positions, according to the company's chief human resources officer.

The hotel company's chief human resources officer Laura Fuentes said AI has removed friction from applications while creating a much larger recruiting pipeline, reported Fortune on Sunday. "Our internships and full-time gigs are perhaps fewer and far in between, and highly competitive," Fuentes says.

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This year, around 12,000 candidates applied for 72 open slots, with 0.6% making the cut. For Hilton's 2026 Launch program, 5,000 applications were submitted for 20 positions.

AI Double-Edged Sword

Fuentes said candidates are using AI to quickly tailor resumes and cover letters, allowing them to apply to more roles.

"[With] the volume that our recruiters are receiving, it's nearly impossible to respond and manage that pipeline," Fuentes said. "It's a bit of a double-edged sword. Candidates can apply more easily—we've removed a lot of the friction from the process. AI is helping candidates apply, but then they're also the victims of the increased volume that this generates," according to the report.

The issue mirrors a broader hiring trend in which candidates use AI to submit applications at scale while recruiters increasingly use AI to screen the resulting volume.

Entry-Level Pressure

Recent hiring coverage has also highlighted pressure on entry-level workers as AI adoption expands. Goldman Sachs Group research cited in recent coverage found AI-related labor-market pressure was strongest among entry-level workers, while noting that the effects are not spread evenly across industries.

Fuentes advises applicants to be selective and show genuine interest during the interview process.

"Try to be a little selective about places that really are going to light you up, where you're going to be happy," Fuentes says. "Because at some point, if you make it through—which is your hope in the interview process—we're gonna want to see authentic interest."

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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