Job boards aggregate opportunities. Candidates click Apply. Applicant Tracking Systems match resumes to keywords. The infrastructure works efficiently at connecting job seekers to open positions. Yet, job seekers spend more time searching for work, applying to more jobs, and receive fewer responses. We interviewed Ali Hashemi, Head of AI at Thrive Career Wellness, to uncover why and how to fix it.
The Architecture Hasn’t Kept Pace
Current job platforms optimize for discovery and application volume, not employment outcomes and quality of candidates. They answer one question well: "Which jobs match my keyword search?" But workforce transitions raise three additional questions that simple keyword matching cannot address:
Am I well-positioned to apply for this role?
Matching keywords to job descriptions doesn't reveal readiness. A resume might align with the majority of requirements, but it doesn't indicate whether applying now makes sense or whether preparation would improve outcomes.
What specific gaps prevent me from being competitive?
Automated rejections provide no diagnostic information. Workers don't learn whether they lack specific skills, whether their resume failed ATS filters, or whether the role itself was misaligned with their trajectory.
How do I position my experience to pass screening systems?
Even qualified candidates get filtered out when resumes lack the exact terminology ATS systems scan for.
As job titles evolve and industries transform, these unanswered questions create additional and unnecessary friction. The result is longer time-to-employment, lost productivity, and a drag on our economy
How AI Job Recommendations Work
AI Job Recommendations is the first intelligent job recommendation system that evaluates career readiness, not just keyword matches. Developed in partnership with Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Prospect, and Riipen, it answers the three fundamental questions traditional platforms typically overlook.
Readiness Assessment
When you explore a role, the system assesses your readiness to apply successfully at this time. Get an actual analysis of whether your experience, skills, and positioning align with what the role requires. If you’re ready, you’ll know. If you’re not, you’ll know exactly why. Our AI provides actionable next steps to help you close skill gaps.
Gap Identification and Upskilling Pathways
When gaps exist, the system shows precisely what is missing and how to address it. Need specific technical skills? It maps upskilling paths to become an ideal fit. The fastest route to employment isn’t always an immediate application.
ATS Keyword Optimization
The system analyzes which specific keywords and phrases the ATS is scanning for in each role, then shows you what is missing from your resume. You receive precise guidance on reframing your experience using the exact language that passes filters and reaches human eyes.
What It Means For Canadian Job Seekers
When skilled workers sit idle due to outdated job search systems, Canada’s economy pays the price. Slower workforce transitions mean lost productivity and diminished competitiveness on the global stage. AI Job Recommendations addresses this problem at an individual level, accelerating employment and ensuring talent lands where it’s needed faster. In an era when workforce adaptability defines economic resilience, this matters more than ever.
This solution was co-developed in close partnership with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Prospect, and Riipen. Their expertise and partnership were instrumental in making Canada a leader in intelligent workforce solutions.
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