Today’s recruiting grind will make us laugh tomorrow

Yes, more on AI and oh how I love lists…

10 years from now, recruiters are going to look back at what their day to day used to be and laugh.

The ones still in the business, anyway.

AI presents a big challenge (and opportunity): doing less boring, tactical work and more valuable, strategic work.

Why do I say it’s a challenge?

Because as a profession, recruiters are so often stuck in busywork that many haven’t had time to develop the strategic parts of their brain. Which is what you’re going to need to do if you want to stick around.

Meaning, less of this:

• Boolean keywording job boards, sourcing tools and LinkedIn
• Reading a thousand resumes to make sure they have the absolute basics
• Playing calendar invite Tetris
• Updating records in the ATS (ok, no one’s doing this anyways…)
• Following up with candidates about (and we all know this isn’t happening enough either)

More of this:

• Advising hiring managers on hiring scope, compensation, and job descriptions
• Pushing back on unrealistic requirements
• Shaping how their company’s (or client’s) brand is perceived by talent
• Analyzing what’s actually working and what isn’t on a regular basis
• The big one: building long-term, 1:1 relationships with candidates. (You know, the actual job.)

A lot more could be added to both lists, but you know me, I love hate lists.

The point I want to make is that AI (or more simply ‘better automation’) is slowly eliminating that first set. Freeing up time for the second.

But if you don’t know how to do that second? Whelp, you’re in trouble.

You could say that none of this is new. Technology has been advancing to enable this shift for decades. Better software comes out every year.

Except AI tools turned into a DIY process: recruiters don’t need to wait for some new VC-backed SaaS start up to build the next-big-thing that will transform their day.

They can just do it themselves. Right now.

The ones who are curious enough to carve out time to do it on their own will stick around.

The ones who aren’t? Won’t.

Check out the full episode of The 10 Minute Talent Rant, episode 110 here.

James Hornick

Partner at Hirewell. #3 Ranked Sarcastic Commenter on LinkedIn.