Published Date: 25th September 2023.
The recruitment industry is undergoing a transformative shift with the introduction of ChatGPT and AI, with some people welcoming the software with open arms and others viewing it in horror.
It’s easy to see that these technologies have the potential to revolutionise the way recruiters, employers and candidates interact and how hiring decisions are ultimately made.
However, concerns and opportunities must be considered as with any technological advancement.
In this blog post, we will explore the current landscape of ChatGPT and AI in recruitment, addressing the pros and cons and highlighting critical areas for further consideration.
Unleashing the Power of ChatGPT
Picture this: a client administers a technical test to a candidate during their pre-interview screening. They ace it with a perfect 100% score. Sounds like a success story, right? Well, not so fast. It turns out the candidate used ChatGPT to complete the test, so now you need a clearer understanding of their skills and have an applicant with questionable ethics.
This scenario left us scratching our heads and sparked a deep dive into the capabilities of AI in the recruitment process. How prevalent is it, how are people using it, and how can employers and recruiters know when they’re being hoodwinked?
ChatGPT can create something out of nothing. It can generate profiles, craft CVs and even write up references. In many ways, it's a game-changer but we must all tread carefully, ensuring accuracy and reliability of the materials it produces.
Examining the Impact on Clients
One significant benefit of ChatGPT and AI for employers is their increased efficiency in recruitment processes. Automating candidate profile creation, CV screening, and reference writing saves employers valuable time and resources. With AI-powered tools, employers can sift through a large pool of candidates, identifying the most promising talent in a more streamlined manner.
However, employers must know the potential risks of relying solely on AI-generated outputs when assessing candidates. While AI can provide impressive job descriptions and ads, candidates may exploit these tools to manipulate (and enhance) their applications.
I can’t emphasise enough the need for employers to conduct comprehensive evaluation processes that place humans front and centre. Thorough interviews, assessments and reference checks conducted by experienced recruiters or hiring managers enable organisations to understand better a candidate's true abilities, cultural fit and potential for growth.
Balancing the Role of Recruiters
As recruiters, we have a delicate role in this AI-driven era. We pride ourselves on building solid relationships with our clients, taking the time to get to know their business, their culture and their people before matching them with the best talent. We need to identify candidates’ skills, experience, personality, and motivations.
With ChatGPT, we can reap the benefits of automation and process efficiency, but we must always maintain our primary focus, ultimately finding the right person for the job. This human-centric process applies nuance and the broader context that AI cannot understand yet!
As recruiters, we're passionate about finding the perfect fit, not just a superficial fit based on keywords. The human touch is what enables us to understand our clients' needs and candidates' aspirations truly.
Candidates and Ethical Considerations
Let's remember the candidates in this equation. With the rise of AI in recruitment, ethical questions have come to the forefront. AI can help candidates generate clear, concise, well-structured CVs that best showcase their experiences and qualifications.
However, candidates should be mindful not to use AI-generated content for technical assessments or other tasks that require the genuine application of their abilities. Using AI to boost performance in specialised tests artificially crosses ethical boundaries and can compromise the integrity of the recruitment process. This doesn’t benefit anyone in the long run, as the candidate is likely to be placed in a role where they don’t have the technical capabilities to thrive.
Candidates appreciate and value a human touch throughout any recruitment process. Building a solid rapport, offering guidance and addressing candidates' concerns are crucial aspects that AI cannot fully replace. By fostering trust using empathy and understanding, recruiters can create a positive candidate experience.
Striking a Balance: Embracing the Positive Aspects
With ChatGPT and AI’s growing ambiguity, recruitment agencies and employers must harness the positive aspects while addressing potential downsides. The key could lie in finding a hybrid model that marries the efficiency of AI with human interaction that delivers genuine relationships.
Rather than drowning in a sea of 50 potential candidates, using AI to generate a shortlist of five based on skills requirements, availability, and salary match can save us all time and effort. This allows us to focus on essential human experience and truly understand the needs of employers and job seekers.
To mitigate risk, employers can also clearly communicate with candidates about the use of AI in the recruitment process setting realistic expectations and establishing a sense of fairness. By doing so, employers can allow candidates to showcase their skills, experiences and personalities beyond the limitations of AI-generated content.
Final Thoughts: The Ever-Evolving World of Recruitment
As a Regional Manager at Beyond Recruitment, I’m witnessing firsthand the impact of ChatGPT and AI on the recruitment industry. It's a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionise how we operate. However, it's crucial to tread carefully ensuring accuracy, ethical considerations, and a balance between AI and the human touch.
While speed and efficiency are essential, we must always maintain sight of the relationships we build and the nuances we understand as recruiters. Clients and candidates still value the personal connection and the work behind the scenes. Remember, AI is a tool, but the people behind it make a difference.
If you are seeking a New Zealand-wide recruitment partner dedicated to delivering talent solutions tailored to your organisation’s needs, let's collaborate to find the perfect fit for your team's success. Reach out to me at andrew.simkin@beyond.co.nz or connect with me on LinkedIn.
