AI and recruitment: is technology offering solutions, or creating more problems?

The emergence of AI has simplified almost every aspect of our lives, and the job search is no different. Parties on both sides of the process are now leaning on technology to streamline what historically has, at times, felt like an arduous, long-winded exercise, whether it’s a candidate being able to instantly draft a polished CV and striking cover letter, or a recruiter sorting through hundreds of applications in mere seconds.

In this article, our Head of Talent Acquisition, Maddy Roberts, delves into the impact the recent AI boom has had on recruitment, and discusses whether AI is enriching the job hunt or endangering its integrity.

Key takeaways

1. Learn the benefits and drawbacks of relying heavily on AI throughout your recruitment process
2. Understand the value of maintaining the human touch
3. Discover how balancing technology and a personal approach can help you stand out and hire the right people

Learning a valuable lesson from teachers

In my role and as a career coach, I have observed firsthand how AI is shaking up the job-hunting process. It reminds me of the education sector’s current tango with AI, as many students, a group that can have a tendency to live by the ‘work smarter not harder’ mantra, have started using AI to write essays that Shakespeare himself would envy. 

The education sector’s dilemma is clear: if students are using AI to ace their coursework, are they truly learning? Similarly, if candidates are using AI to shine in every aspect of the hiring process, are we really getting the best people for the job?  In education, there's a growing call for alternative assessments—real-world problem solving, project-based learning, and good old-fashioned critical thinking - and perhaps recruitment needs to follow suit.

The human touch is still valued

Let’s face it, AI has certainly upped the ante in both education and recruitment, but here’s the rub—it’s still just a tool. A powerful one, yes, but a tool, nonetheless. In the hype surrounding the time, effort, and money-saving qualities of AI, many employers are forgetting the human element of the recruitment process that is still so important.

Technology can do many things, but it can’t properly communicate your great workplace culture, imitate the personality of your talent team or replicate the gut feeling they get when they just know a candidate is the right fit. Individuality is an asset that can’t be replicated, so why mask yours with computer-generated interactions that not only make you seem like every other employer, but limit your ability to truly assess whether a candidate will thrive in your organisation?

A delicate balancing act

In this new world driven by technology, it’s about how we balance the benefits of tools like AI with the irreplaceable value of human judgement. Sure, AI can help us navigate the flood of candidates, but it’s still up to us, the humble humans, to steer the ship.

As recruiters, our role is evolving. We’re not just gatekeepers; we’re becoming guides, helping candidates navigate this new terrain where AI and human skills must coexist. And for candidates, it’s worth remembering that, while AI can help you get your foot in the door, it’s your human qualities—your creativity, your empathy, your ability to connect—that will really help you make your mark.

So, let’s embrace the AI revolution, but let’s also remember that in the end, it’s the combined effort of AI and humans that help create a recruitment process that’s fair, efficient, and maintains that all-important human touch. Because, let’s be honest, would you really want to work for a robot anyway?