Dive Brief:
- More than half of job seekers are unsure if employers are using AI to screen resumes and applications, according to a new study by Clutch. According to their data, 32% of applicants said they are doubtful companies are using tech to screen, while another 32% said they believe they may, but aren't certain.
- Where does tech fit into recruitment efforts? A small percentage of respondents said they think it may improve recruitment (11%), but almost one in five don't think it will ever be useful. One concern experts report with the technology is that it can reinforce existing biases; if companies skew toward hiring graduates from a specific college or group of colleges, AI has the potential to focus on those candidates to the exclusion of others. Gender discrimination may be another way the tech can impact recruitment results.
- Currently, according to the report, only 3% of job seekers are communicating with potential employers through AI-supported chatbots. Experts see the potential to grow the use of chatbots to improve the recruitment process, however.
Dive Insight:
Your recruitment team may not be ready to use AI, but if they aren't, they may have to be soon. The technology can speed the recruitment process; in today's tight applicant market, too lengthy a time-to-hire can mean more lost candidates than new hires. Unfortunately, many companies are not adequately prepared for the changes AI can bring. Only 31% of employers studied by Bersin, Deloitte Consulting LLP feel ready to navigate the emerging AI landscape, Christa Manning, vice president and solution provider research leader at Bersin, previously told HR Dive.
The concerns about discrimination in the tech may be legitimate, and it's important for businesses to periodically verify their systems are working optimally and not excluding candidates for the wrong reasons. The tech should focus largely on skills and qualifications, experts have said.
Progress is soon likely, however, in the AI field. Some of the largest companies are looking at how AI can enhance the recruitment process. IBM, for example, uses AI software to "harness job applicants' vast digital output," Deepak Bharadwaj, vice president and general manager, HR Business Unit at ServiceNow, recently wrote for HR Dive. That output can include work samples, social media posts, facial expressions, speech patterns and more and can help employers decide who may be the best culture fit for an organization.
As usual, employers can't forget the human touch even when they become more AI-savvy. Applicants consistently rate human interaction as a key part of an ideal recruiting process.