Does Over-Automation in Recruitment Help? – HR Technologist

Technology is pervading each and every aspect of an organization. With advanced technologies, the number of new applications innovated and introduced as seen an overwhelming rise. Today, we see different apps/solutions that take care and automate different aspects of work in an organization. But while technology is helping to improve the results and effectiveness of tasks and processes, a recent study by Randstad US study which examined perceptions, expectations, and attitudes of job seekers in a job search process, finds that humans are often frustrated when a job search experience is overly automated.

"The findings reinforce what we've believed for quite some time, that successful talent acquisition lies at the intersection between technology and human touch," says Linda Galipeau, CEO, Randstad North America. "By leveraging emerging technologies, we are able to deliver on our clients' and candidates' expectations in a predominately digital world, but with more freedom to focus on the human connection. If done correctly, the right combination of personal interaction with the power of today's intelligent machines can create an experience that is inherently more human."

About 82% respondents of the study, which took feedback from 1,200 people, said that they were regularly frustrated when job experiences were overly automated, with 95% saying that automation should aid and not replace the recruitment experience. In fact, 87% respondents rue that technology has made the job search experience impersonal.

While adoption of emerging technologies offers a seamless digital experience, it is also drastically changing how people connect to jobs. But, 82% of the survey respondents reveal that these innovative technologies come second to human interaction and personal touch. Job seekers find companies that prioritize human interaction, more appealing compared to companies that prioritize technology.

The things that most influenced a candidate's positive impression about a company were the amount of personal and human interaction they experienced during the job search process, and the hiring manager/recruiter they worked with.

While 91% agreed that technology has significantly enhanced the job search process and made it more effective, the time taken and the communication level during the hiring process could greatly affect the impression about the potential employer, and these impressions had lasting effects. According to the survey, 33% of the respondents said that they will never reapply or refer a friend to the company where they had a negative experience during the job search process.

"Employers today, and in the future, will be judged by the experience they create for prospective new hires," adds Galipeau. "Job candidates are empowered to provide instant feedback on employers, rating a company's candidate experience just as they would rate a movie or a product. In a tightening labor market, companies cannot afford to lose potential talent due to a poor hiring experience. And in a technology-driven world of talent, it's not only about how a company markets itself, but what others say about the company that has a positive impact on employer branding."

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Does Over-Automation in Recruitment Help? - HR Technologist