The Prime Minister is calling on recruiters to make the hiring process less technology-focused and more about candidates’ ability to engage face-to-face.
Recruitment bodies very much welcome this notion; however, it’s also believed that there is a place for new technologies within hiring.
AI Hiring and Zoom Interviews
Talking on a careers podcast, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that technology was not making recruitment fairer.
He believes that AI-driven processes increase the risk of filtering out candidates who could be ideal for a role, simply because they don’t come across as well on screen or don’t show up in the algorithm.
He also said that organisations shouldn’t rely so heavily on virtual job interviews as they ‘don’t capture candidates’ personality and passion’.
Go Digital Where It Matters and Human Where It Counts
Responding to the PM’s concerns, Maxine Bligh, Chief Membership & Innovation Officer at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), said:
“Many recruiters will agree with the Prime Minister that new technologies must not come at the expense of fairness and transparency in the hiring process. It is also encouraging to see him engaging early in his tenure with a recruitment industry worth £60 billion to the UK economy.”
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Bligh added, “Our industry is at a turning point. The challenge is using AI to make better hiring decisions while giving recruiters more time to do the one thing technology cannot replace, which is building relationships with people.
“While Zoom interviewing has its place in the early stages of recruitment, particularly where people cannot attend a physical meeting or for accessibility reasons, in-person connection is always vital to a good placement.
Likewise, AI tools are helpful, even essential, when dealing with a huge volume of applications, but it takes skill and professionalism to make the right call. The key message from us to recruiters is to go digital where it matters and human where it counts. In the end, people hire people, and sustainable recruitment is built on trust, expertise and long-term thinking, not just algorithms.
“What recruiters want to hear next from the government is greater recognition that temporary work can provide the meaningful and rewarding opportunities at the heart of Labour’s ambitions for working people.
“Policy should support and encourage that part of the labour market, particularly at a time when much of the growth in this uncertain economy is coming from flexible and temporary work.”
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