The Bot-On-Bot AI Recruitment Showdown

Bot vs. Bot

Both job seekers and recruiters have been using AI tools to hasten the hiring process, which has resulted in a flood of low-quality applications and a worse outcome for all.

According to hiring platform Greenhouse, job applications in January 2024 were up a whopping 71% from the previous year, as job seekers have been using AI to write resumes and send them en masse. To accommodate this surge, recruiters have also turned to AI to sift through the thousands of resumes. 

The hiring process has become a bot vs. bot battle, with its human counterparts losing. Amid AI’s promise to boost the intricate recruitment process, job openings remain unfilled, and HR professionals continue to parse through mountains of resumes every day. 

Jumping the gun

Wired noted a case of one open data science vacancy at a U.S. health tech firm that received 3,000 applications. A few passed the test assessment, but the recruiter in charge could tell that some used AI to accomplish the task because of the wording or through their own admission. 

The case is a prime example of how AI has complicated the recruitment process for both parties. Impending layoffs caused by a stagnant economy have pushed professionals to seek AI assistance, believing it would make their CVs stand out.

While this is understandable, headhunters have been spending extra time poring over the documents, trying to decipher which have been enhanced by a bot, to avoid sending an unqualified applicant to the next phase.

Popular recruitment sites have introduced new automation tools to help employers continuously increase their headcounts. However, the usual problems associated with AI recruitment, such as racial and cultural bias, persist. These bots have yet to integrate nuance into their decision-making processes.

In their quest to get ahead of the curve and save a few bucks, companies are rushing toward a technology clearly in its nascent stages. It’s never wise to be too early on the adoption curve since you generally end up overpaying for early releases that tend to disappoint.

Going analog with a twist

But the surge of resumes—both made by AI and humans—won’t stop anytime soon. Corporations, too, need to boost their labor force to foster growth. 

AI’s mistakes would’ve been costly if not for the trained and conscientious eye of a human hiring manager. This tells us that companies need not jump on the AI bandwagon immediately because the best solution has been right there all along. 

At this point, the human recruiter is still the most qualified professional for the job. Available at a 70% discount, offshore HR workers are equipped with the experience and expertise to parse through resumes with precision. 

It will take time before we can wholly depend on AI to handle a critical task such as recruitment. These outsourced workers can team up with in-house recruiters to review thousands of resumes. Corporations should utilize this trustworthy tandem to boost their headcount and continue their growth.

The question for your business

How are you managing your own hiring and recruitment processes?