AI has been making waves since November 2022 in various aspects of modern life, and the recruitment process is no exception. While there’s still some scepticism surrounding its use, job seekers are increasingly leveraging AI, particularly generative AI, to compose their CV’s and completes applications for them. This shift is prompting a re-evaluation of traditional recruitment methods.
Recruiters are becoming aware of candidates using generative AI and recognise that the technology’s sophistication will only grow, potentially transforming the way applications are evaluated. The cover letter, once a standard requirement, is losing relevance as recruiters increasingly turn to social media and LinkedIn profiles to understand candidates’ personalities.
Although generative AI-generated applications lack personality, experts argue it doesn’t necessarily cheat the hiring process. Instead, it assists candidates who struggle with writing, providing a concise summary of their career highlights. But, if written communication skills are a key skill required in your role, then you need to ensure you aren’t solely relying on a CV to assess them and may need to give a written test in person to fully assess a candidate’s skills!
As generative AI reshapes how candidates may be applying for roles, employers may need to adapt their recruitment processes. To differentiate from what machines can achieve, assessments could focus more on creative and abstract thinking. I think that Face-to-face interviews may also gain favour again over virtual interviews and online assessments, to allow employers to assess cultural fit and soft skills, which are critical for recruitment decisions.
On the recruiter’s side, AI tools are being embraced, using data-driven insights to match candidates with vacancies and assess their skills and personalities. However, caution should still be used if you are leaning towards this route, as there are many things that only a human might spot in a CV or a cover letter that make a candidate stand out, such as the fact that someone is a member of teams or associations outside of work or has always worked during their studies, could all be things that are important to you as an employer and which a simple AI Job Match wouldn’t take into consideration.
We’re closely monitoring these developments in the challenging world of recruitment. To ensure you can attract, hire, and retain the best talent, we invite you to book a FREE Recruitment Audit with us to truly understand whether you have the right things in place.
