TECHNOFILE
Tech and recruitment – what ’ s going on ?
Whether you ’ re searching for that new position or seeking the best candidate , tech expert Tim Stackpool outlines some of the new technology you can expect to encounter ….
THE EXPERT
Tech expert Tim is the technology writer for Executive PA Media . He can be heard on talk radio in Australia and is a tech presenter who speaks at conferences and trade shows about technology ’ s impact on work and lifestyle .
The cost of individual recruitment can run into the thousands , so tech is being relied on to ensure the best candidate is recruited every time . Don ’ t be surprised if any of these technologies become part of your job search or candidate-hunting journey …
Smart writing assistance A new breed of language analysis tools , such as TEXTIO , can cement corporate culture or help nail that application . Think about how the inadvertent use of hidden gender expectation might discourage an applicant or employer ( consciously or subconsciously ) purely because the word ‘ nurture ’ was used instead of ‘ manage ’ – now , writing assistant software can ensure unconscious bias in job advertisements or applications is minimised .
This type of software can also be used beyond recruitment . Corporations have reported success using the same technology for developing cultural change within an organisation or turning data into meaningful language .
Automated applicant tracking Technology has been employed for this purpose for over 20 years with varying degrees of success – and there is truly a love / hate relationship in this realm between recruiters and candidates alike . But machine screening is here to stay – a human will take at least two minutes even for the most cursory observation of a resume while software can take mere seconds .
An Applicant Tracking System ( ATS ) becomes more important after this step . ATS should be used to send ‘ rejection ’ letters , even within a matter of hours , and move other applicants onto the next stage . Given that around 75 % of applicants never hear any response from recruiters and 60 % are left in the dark after an interview ( worldwide average ), resume screening combined with an exceptional ATS reduces the risk of poor candidate experiences . That also means less chance of a negative review on Glassdoor for the company .
Chatbots Chatbots , like offered by PHENOM , can work well to initially connect both candidates and recruiters . For recruiters it can help attract the right talent , showcase the brand , build a strong talent pipeline and convert best-fit applicants . For candidates , it can be a non-confronting way to make first contact with a preferred employer , determine whether there is an appropriate cultural fit and quickly learn of the skills required of any role .
One other advantage ? Use the chatbot to subsequently schedule an interview with a qualified candidate . Scheduling links can be generated and used by candidates once they ’ ve passed the filtering questions . And unlike a human recruiter , a chatbot can talk to candidates 24 / 7 , so they can answer questions and filter candidates much faster across multiple time zones .
Interviews with artificial intelligence This is where both Zoom and in-person interviews can head to the next level . We all know HR managers who are ‘ a good judge of character ’, but what if an algorithm could analyse facial expressions like furrowing your brow ( or raising eyebrows ), eye-widening , chin raising or smiling ? It ’ s also important to ensure an objective and non-biased approach is made to recruiting . That ’ s where TENGAI positions itself . It ’ s designed to ask neutral , non-leading questions that accurately assess a candidate ’ s soft skills without any form of bias . The personnel recommendations are then presented as scientifically factual .
It can also deal with volumes of work much more quickly . Hiring speed critical ? Trial AI tech as recruitment turnaround can be significantly shortened – and candidates can be confident of an objective and measured consideration . S
30 Executive PA | Summer Issue 2023