Even the most seasoned organisations grapple with the resource-intense requirements of traditional recruitment methods. That's where the marvel of recruitment automation comes to the rescue. By harnessing cutting-edge tools and tech-savvy strategies, businesses can breathe new life into their recruiting processes with recruitment automation, saving valuable time, boosting efficiency, and most importantly, enhancing their bottom line.
What is recruitment automation?
Recruitment automation refers to the process of recruiters automating their tasks and workflows using the power of AI. This involves a variety of activities, such as uploading job postings, replying to emails, or using an applicant tracking system. The purpose is to reduce the amount of workload - as well as to create a smoother, more efficient sourcing process.
Why is recruitment automation a must now?
Once upon a time, the words recruiting automation would either inspire dread over losing one’s job or provoke an unimpressed “Yeah, right!” from the listener.
Today, recruitment automation is on its way to becoming a ubiquitous and indispensable feature for recruitment and staffing agencies worldwide, with a lot of benefits for recruiter efficiency. AI (Artificial Intelligence) and RPA (Robotic Process Automation) now feature widely in the recruitment process, meaning that recruiters need to innovate their recruitment methods and strategies.
And there’s no going back. AI has become a game-changer in recruiting. Contrary to popular belief, their use won't push out humans from recruitment. If anything, it will intensify the human touch and enable recruiters to act more effectively in vital areas of the recruitment process.
Recruiting has seen extensive restructuring to incorporate automation and AI. The transformation is welcome; it has led to better reach and greater efficiency in attracting the best talent.
Read on to find out why phasing out traditional methods of recruitment in favor of automated processes can reinvigorate and revitalise your agency and how to choose the right automation software to support this.
Hire better quality candidates
That’s our ultimate aim, isn’t it? It’s always quality over quantity - and this is where you should realise (and appreciate) the benefits of recruiting automation. By using algorithms to screen candidates, staffing businesses can ensure that only the most qualified candidates are considered for positions. This can save time and resources that would otherwise be spent on interviewing unqualified candidates.
In addition, every time a new job opens up which requires a profile similar to ones that have been appointed before, recruiters can go back to the Applicant Tracking System and invite the applicants with a similar profile who were previously rejected. The need for going through the entire process to find a candidate who possesses the right qualities is reduced, meaning that recruiters don’t have to create an entirely new talent pipeline.
With AI or machine learning, getting quality candidates is much easier because once an AI learns the factors that make a candidate successful, it will tweak its search criteria extensively until it puts only the best candidates in front of you.
Cut down on redundant workload
With recruitment automation, a huge amount of workload that is largely mundane and often redundant (e.g: publishing job-related ads, sending interview requests) is jettisoned. Traditionally, the preliminary screening process can take up to 23 hours for a single hire. On average 75% to 88% of the resumes received for a position are unqualified. If you can figure out how to automate your workflow, you can get the right candidates for the position without having to spend days sifting through irrelevant resumes. This is one top recruitment challenge you can get ahead of by using recruitment automation software.
You can also use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to shortlist the applicants who are a better fit for your company. Additionally, algorithms in AI can successfully predict (based on historical data) the candidates from the applicant pool who are likely to succeed at the job.
Reduce time to hire
Automating certain steps in the recruitment process can shorten the total time-to-hire, a critical metric in analysing and evaluating the effectiveness of recruitment activities.
When a huge volume of pre-interview tasks are automated and handed over to AI, recruiters can focus on more important tasks like relationship-building and interviews. Since the first stage of the process is sped, the subsequent stages are also fast-tracked. And thanks to a centralised database, all information is stored in one place for better client relationship management and recruitment analytics.
Operating on a system that isn't serving you? Check out our ROI calculator and put your numbers to the test.
Eliminate bias
Bias is still prevalent among recruiters. It may assume a number of different forms, the most prominent ones being: confirmation bias, similarity attraction effect, and the halo effect. Recruiters may consciously or unconsciously impose gender, political or racial bias when perusing applications.
Fortunately, this problem can be tackled - to a certain extent - by enlisting AI for recruitment. The use of recruitment software helps measure diversity data and remove bias against certain demographic information of the applicants (e.g: previous school, zip code, etc.) - while at the same time directing the focus onto their skills and merits. This is especially effective if you have or are considering implementing a DEI recruitment strategy.
Improve candidate experience
Candidate experience is essential and it's often challenge for recruiters. Interacting with thousands of job applicants and trying to establish an effective communication channel with each of them individually is a huge job. A great way to maintain a good relationship with potential hires is to use a recruitment chatbot. Recruiters can also use an ATS to create a better candidate experience.
A chatbot is a more efficient alternative for all the communication needs of an applicant up until the interview scheduling stage. It can satisfactorily answer the candidates’ FAQs regarding the job and the application process.
Chatbots can also collect relevant information from the candidates and rank them on various metrics. They make the recruiter’s job easier and at the same time ensure that applicants are not left in limbo waiting for some form of communication. The chatbot will notify the applicants at every step of the process and such communication will ensure those job seekers have a positive experience.
Read more: How to Build an Effective Candidate Attraction Strategy in Recruitment
How to choose the right recruitment automation software for your business in 5 steps
Step 1. Assess your business needs
Before jumping in and investing in recruitment automation, it is important to ensure it aligns with your business needs and overall strategy. Considering things such as budget and recruitment goals is very important to guide your decision about investing in recruitment automation, especially if you’re a new agency.
It is also important to consider the level of your business: what sort of candidates you work with and which roles you usually recruit for. For example, if you recruit for very high-level senior roles, recruitment automation might not be a priority. In contrast, if you are in entry-level recruitment and frequently post on job boards, investing in recruitment automation software is a good idea.
Step 2. Pay attention to features
There are several must-have features that recruitment automation software providers offer. It’s important to pay attention to what features each software offers and whether they align to your business goals.
Some examples of popular features and the problems you might encounter without them are:
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Data protection capabilities. It is essential that candidate data is kept secure and confidential to ensure legal compliance.
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Posting jobs on social media platforms. Some recruitment automation systems allow you to post jobs on social media platforms such as Instagram, streamlining the entire process.
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Automation. Of course, automation is the main feature of these systems, allowing you to automatically input candidate data and information.
Ensure your chosen recruitment automation includes these key features to get the most for your recruitment strategy.
Step 3. Consider mobile capabilities
With remote work continuing to be popular, more candidates than ever are using their mobile devices for job hunting. With social media apps such as LinkedIn providing an easy way to find jobs, candidates are increasingly relying on their mobile devices to find roles.
Making the leap into mobile recruiting allows you to reach a much wider talent pool and attract passive candidates, who are much more likely to be active on their mobile devices. Ensure the recruitment automation software you choose has mobile recruiting capabilities.
Step 4. Integration capabilities
Effective recruitment automation software will always have a range of integrations to make the recruitment process even more seamless.
This type of software should integrate with job boards and social media platforms, making it much easier to navigate and use these platforms for recruiting. If your software doesn’t include common integration such as job boards, social media platforms, and communication apps, you won’t be getting the full benefits of recruitment automation.
Look for a software that not only integrates with these tools but does so smoothly. The last thing you want is software with poor integration capabilities.
If you’re looking for recruitment automation software with seamless integration capabilities, check out Vincere Automate or request a demo.
Step 5. Look for systems with effective customer support
Prompt customer support is essential in any recruitment automation system. The last you want as a business is difficulties migrating data, implementing the software, and everyday use.
Customer support teams can help with implementation of the software as well as queries with everyday use. They might also provide training to get your business up to speed on how to use the software effectively.
Additionally, customer support is always on hand if you or your team experience any bugs while using the software. Ideally, you want to choose a vendor who responded within minutes rather than days, as this will allow any issues to be sorted in a timely manner.
Quick tips for recruitment process automation
Streamline your hiring process and save time with these quick tips for recruitment automation. Ready to take your talent acquisition to the next level? Our detailed guide on recruitment process automation has all the answers.
- Start small: Don't automate your entire recruitment process at once. Begin with a few tasks, and expand as you become more proficient.
- Seek Stakeholder Buy-in: Ensure alignment and buy-in from all stakeholders, including hiring managers, recruiters, and HR professionals.
- Stay flexible: Be prepared to tweak your automated recruitment process based on feedback and evolving needs.
- Measure results: Regularly evaluate the results of your automation to ensure it is delivering the desired outcomes.
- Choose Appropriate Tools: Select automation tools that match your needs and budget.
- Train your team: Invest time in training your team to maximise the effectiveness of the automation tools.
- Monitor and adjust: Keep a close watch on the automated processes and fine-tune them as necessary.
- Personalise the experience: Despite automation, strive to provide a personalised experience for candidates.
Recruitment automation is the magic wand that can transform your recruiting process. By automating key elements, you can significantly enhance efficiency, save time, and deliver a superior candidate experience.
However, remember that automation in recruitment is not a silver bullet. It requires careful selection of the right tools and techniques, aligning with your organisational needs and budget. It also demands regular monitoring, measurement of results, and necessary adjustments to remain effective.
Get started with automating your recruitment process
Given the current dynamics of the business world, there’s no turning back - recruitment and staffing agencies must either renovate their whole operations or watch themselves fall behind the competition. We hope that the above analysis should provide you with a comprehensive understanding of recruitment automation tools - and how to adopt these into your daily process.
Streamline your recruitment process today with recruitment automation software and enter a new age of recruitment.
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