Recruiters.... Do Better!

As a recruiter, I speak to people who are searching for a job every day.  More and more I am hearing stories about the issues people are having when being approached by recruiters. The two concerns I hear about most frequently are:

1. Total lack of communication (never hearing back after an interview, no notification if a job was ever filled, etc)

2. Complete lack of personalization (they feel more like a number than a person)

I always have empathy.  You'd think with the speed of which we can communicate now, and the ability to interview virtually, finding a job would be easier not more difficult.  It seems however, that navigating the interview process has become more challenging, and the process has become more impersonal. People are being treated as a commodity instead of as a human being.

Today I accepted an invite to connect via LinkedIn from a recruiter.  After I accepted the invite I received the following Inmail (with a few edits to conceal the person & company identity)

Thank you for connecting, and I look forward to our next conversation. Here are some of our key differentiators for your consideration:

 30 record years out of 31+ years of business, 100% REMOTE, 100% retained search; no contingency work; therefore, you are always getting paid

No business development. 99% of our searches are high-six-figure opportunities. Premium fee structure at 33% to client Full support, research, and database management. Minimal data entry 90% of leads are already sourced with personal email and mobile numbers.

We specialize in approximately 10 different sectors (Agriculture, Horticulture, Construction, Landscape, Arbor, Facility Services, Restoration, are just a few)

Generous incentive plan: 35% above the industry average. The position is 1099 and commission-based with NO CAP, ideal for ambitious and confident individuals 

To move forward, we kindly request that you complete our assessment, which will allow you to showcase your unique strengths while providing us with valuable insights into your potential to excel in this role. Once you have completed the survey, we will reach out to you promptly to schedule a time for us to connect and discuss the next steps.

Is this the new standard on how businesses are going to approach people? 

Maybe the communication I received was from a Fake Recruiter?  I've been hearing about people being spammed by Fake Recruiters.  Until recently I was unaware that was even a thing.

Candidates are human beings, and they deserve to be treated kindly, and with respect.  Even though its been a number of years, I remember being in the interview process, its a stressful time, particularly when you've interviewed and you're waiting for your recruiter to let you know if the company is interested in moving forward. Things like regular updates, clear and honest communication, and a personal touch are important.

Companies and Recruiters must do a better job at caring for the people they're courting. No successful, self confident, professional will want to work for a company where they are not treated with an element of compassion, and with respect for their time and interest.

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Does AI Have a Role in the Employment Search Process?

We are all familiar with what AI is correct?  You'd had to have been living completely off grid & social media free to not know about AI (Artificial Intelligence). 

AI has been prevalent in the news lately, people are either touting its usefulness, or ringing the doomsday bells of our demise.  Whatever your thoughts or concerns about AI, there might be a place for it in the job search process.  Honestly, I'm a bit shocked at myself for even saying that, since authenticity is so important to me when selecting candidates, but maybe.....just maybe there is room for a bit of assistance along the way?

When recently receiving a tutorial on ChatGPT from my more tech savvy brother, I had him query "Act like a candidate and write a post interview thank you letter".  For those not familiar with ChatGPT - you ask it to "act like a" fill in the blank and it will provide you with the content you're looking for - hopefully.

I was honestly quite impressed with the 3 paragraph Thank You note it generated, and had I received the note from a candidate, I'd have been equally impressed.  I'm not going to waste time discussing Thank You notes here, I've written a previous blog post about that, but I've seen some very lackluster, if not downright deplorable Thank You notes over the years. 

After reading the AI generated Thank You note, I had to have a very serious internal dialog about how married I am to authenticity when it comes to candidate communication.  A lot of people already rely on a 3rd party to help them create a resume, why not rely on AI to assist with Cover Letters, Letters of Interest and Thank you notes?  As long as the person takes the time to carefully read the AI generated content, make it their own, and learn what a good letter looks like, no harm right?

While writing this post I decided to ask ChatGPT to "act like a recruiter and write a few paragraphs on why it is beneficial to use AI to write a cover letter" and here is what it came up with:

As a seasoned recruiter, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of technology on the recruitment process. One area that stands out is the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to craft cover letters. While some might argue that the personal touch of a handwritten letter or the unique flair of an individual's writing style is irreplaceable, AI-driven cover letters offer several compelling advantages that cannot be overlooked.

Firstly, AI-powered cover letters can significantly streamline the recruitment process. With the ability to analyze job descriptions and candidate profiles, AI can generate tailored cover letters that align perfectly with the requirements and expectations of the hiring company. This ensures that recruiters receive cover letters that are not only relevant but also highlight the candidate's most pertinent skills and experiences.

See, AI-driven cover letters can help level the playing field for candidates. Writing a compelling cover letter can be a daunting task, especially for those who may not have strong writing skills or are unfamiliar with the expectations of a particular industry. By leveraging AI, candidates can access a tool that helps them articulate their qualifications effectively, thereby increasing their chances of making a positive impression on potential employers.

Moreover, AI can also assist in eliminating unconscious biases in the recruitment process. By focusing solely on the content and relevance of the cover letter, AI ensures that candidates are evaluated based on their skills, experiences, and qualifications, rather than subjective factors such as gender, ethnicity, or educational background.

In conclusion, while the human touch in recruitment will always be invaluable, the integration of AI in crafting cover letters represents a significant advancement in the field. By leveraging AI's capabilities, recruiters can ensure a more efficient, unbiased, and inclusive recruitment process, ultimately leading to better hiring decisions and enhanced organizational success.

Hard to argue with that!