AI in Recruitment: Welcome to the Realm of Uncertainty

Latest Clutch Survey Finds More Than 60% of Job Seekers Unsure if Companies Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Review Applications During Recruitment 

To what extent would you be comfortable if someone told you that AI is screening your job applications? Well, don’t cringe yourself for not wanting AI to check your resume. You are not alone. In fact, more than 60% of the job seekers are actually unaware of how AI is actually helping companies find the best talent in the industry. A new survey from Clutch captures how AI, texting, social media, and other communication channels impact hiring practices, essential information for companies as they explore new ways to use technology in recruitment. Interesting, isn’t it?

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As AI becomes a mainstream technology to review applications during the recruitment process, job seekers could further question businesses’ use of AI (AI) to evaluate resumes and cover letters, according to a new survey from Clutch.

The survey found that 32% of job seekers doubt companies used AI to review their resumes or cover letters during their most recent job search, compared to 32% who believe companies used AI but remain unsure.

This uncertainty translates to job seekers’ mixed feelings about AI, the survey finds. More than half of recent job seekers (51%) believe AI currently isn’t advanced enough to assist with recruitment – including nearly 20% who doubt AI will ever be useful.

Does AI Improve Recruitment? 

AI’s level of reliability and use depends on how companies choose to apply it.

Only 11% of job seekers believe AI improves recruitment. Experts warn that AI can reinforce existing biases when it’s used to evaluate resumes and cover letters. For example, AI can replicate a company’s tendency to hire candidates of a certain gender or educational background.

Experts, however, believe AI can be beneficial if companies use AI for skill-based testing instead of screening candidates’ race, gender, or backgrounds.

“As long as your test isn’t easier for someone who went to MIT than it is for someone who went to community college, AI can be tremendously helpful,” said Harj Haggar, CEO and co-founder of Triplebyte, a company that uses background-blind testing to match candidates with tech companies.

AI can also supplement communication between companies and candidates. Currently, only 3% of applicants communicate with companies via AI-supported chatbots, but experts see the potential for growth.

Nearly One-Quarter of Job Seekers Text Companies During Recruitment

Nearly 25% of job seekers have texted a company representative during the interview process.

Courteney Kovacs, a senior professional in HR at Hudson Insurance Group, views texting as a valuable tool for communicating with potential employees, especially in a competitive hiring landscape.

Kovacs said, “Everybody is texting. If you can find a way to incorporate it into recruitment, why not?”

Candidates who text potential employers should use the same etiquette as writing a professional email, experts advise.

Nearly 20% of Job Seekers Use Social Media to Contact Companies

Nearly 1 in 5 job seekers (16%) connect with companies on social media.

Emily Rowe is the owner and CEO of Social Sensei, a Florida-based creative agency. She initially connected with three members of her core staff on Instagram before hiring them.

“If a business is on social media, they should expect to use it as a mode of communication,” Rowe said.

Traditional Communication Methods Remain Popular

Phone calls and email still remain essential to hiring.

Nearly three-quarters of recent hires connected with companies via phone calls (74%) and email (73%) during recruitment.

Clutch’s 2018 Recruiting Survey included 507 full-time employees who were hired in the past 6 months.

Currently, Clutch connects small and medium businesses with the best-fit agencies, software, or consultants they need to tackle business challenges together and with confidence. Clutch’s methodology compares business service providers and software in a specific market based on verified client reviews, services offered, work quality, and market presence.

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