WILL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AFFECT YOUR HIRING STRATEGY?

Posted on 8th August 2023

Discussions around artificial intelligence are everywhere at the minute with the implications of this technology potentially affecting so many aspects of our personal and professional lives. One area in which artificial intelligence is set to make the biggest impact is employment with a number of trends predicted for both outsourced recruiters and well as internal HR departments. As part of our commitment to always stay ahead of the curve, we're presenting some of the biggest trends and predictions that AI will present for your hiring strategy, both now and in the years to come.

1. CURRENT UPTAKE

Widespread utilisation of AI isn't a future prediction. Instead, a surprisingly large number of businesses are already using this technology in some shape or form as part of their hiring practices. In fact, it's claimed that as many as "43% of Human Resources professionals are already using it in their hiring processes"!(1)

2. THE END OF THE COVER LETTER?

A recent online survey found as many as nearly half of cover letters from candidates were being crated by AI platform 'Chat GBT'. If the aim of cover letters is to primarily showcase the articulation and writing style of candidates then the seamless use of AI as a shortcut could largely negate the validity of cover letters in the hiring process altogether.(2)

3. A FALSE PROMISE OF TIME SAVING?

AI is currently heavily being cited as an efficient tool for the early stages of the recruitment process - speeding up candidate searches, CV screening etc. However, with so many nuances in candidates CVs and the different ways in which skills etc are presented, will AI be comprehensive enough not to let a potentially fantastic candidate slip through the net. Certainly, this approach would at the very least miss the benefits of a face-to-face approach.

4. ELIMINATING BIAS?

One of the main arguments for utilising AI in the hiring process is being able to remove potential unfair bias from the recruiter when assessing candidates. This benefit will appeal more to those overseeing a hiring process without being directly involved and perhaps not trusting their recruiters, either external or internal, to form unbiased candidate assessments. This 'plaster approach' will only go so far, however, as their recruitment team will still to be involved at other key stages in the hiring process, if not the early stages.

5. STREAMLINED INTERVIEWS?

The interview is one of the most critically important elements of the hiring process. Many companies are now using AI chatbots and other software to run their interview processes. An approach seen as either highly efficient, or cold and sterile. With many roles now offering either part or fully remote working, the few remaining in-person touch points could be critical in maintaining a personal connection between employee and employer.

6. DATA, DATA, DATA

"Mistakes, particularly with data, can delay the recruitment process by weeks. Recruiting involves processing large volumes of data, including line-by-line data. This data comes from CVs, cover letters, and candidate tasks. AI is revolutionising this aspect of recruitment by accurately processing it and performing relevant data-driven tasks."(3)

7. JOB SECURITY FEAR

Employees have been hearing it for years..."watch out, the robots are coming and your jobs are at risk"! Any major technological breakthrough will always shake up key industries, providing both opportunities and threats to certain professions. However, research has shown that the widespread integration of AI will create a net surplus of new jobs, "Across 26 countries in 2025 85 million jobs will be displaced while 97 million new jobs will be cerated."(4)

8. TRUE WORKPLACE PERFORMANCE?

AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible for employees to use as part of their day-to-day jobs which raises question about the true nature of their performance and skillset and, perhaps more importantly, if that will continue to matter as much. One source states "more than one-third of workers in a recent survey said they had used AI tools for work-related tasks. 68% of respondents in the most recent survey who said they were using AI tools were doing so without first informing their bosses".(5)

9. ONBOARDING POTENTIAL

AI could provide some real benefit for comprehensive onboarding processes - something that so many businesses under-utilise, "It can also streamline the onboarding process by transforming it into a 24/7 system utilising chatbots to provide automated answers to common questions and offer guidance. This automated onboarding lowers onboarding costs and frees up the time of other employees."(6)

10. BEYOND ONBOARDING

AI also offers the potential to provide continuous guidance for new employees beyond their initial onboarding process, "AI and chatbots could enable workers to see not only how their role fits in the bigger picture of the company, but also explore the exact pathways they can navigate to move up in their career, or move laterally into a new role, making them less likely to quit".(7)

FORWARD THINKING?

AI is clearly making an impact in the world of hiring. Perhaps the most forward thinking approach right now is one that embraces the potential AI offers without abandoning the clear strengths face-to-face processes provide. At Netbox, we’ve always embraced technology while still proudly maintaining a close relationships with our clients and candidates.

Sources:
(1) https://www.jobylon.com/blog/how-ai-is-transforming-the-world-of-recruitment
(2) https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/3/8/23618509/chatgpt-generative-ai-cover-letter
(3) https://hrnews.co.uk/how-ai-is-revolutionizing-recruitment/
(4) https://financesonline.com/ai-trends/
(5) https://www.ciodive.com/news/chatgpt-AI-tools-work/642571/
(6) https://hrnews.co.uk/how-ai-is-revolutionizing-recruitment/
(7) https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/25/chatgpt-and-ai-are-talent-recruitment-and-retention-game-changers.html