Is AI (Artificial Intelligence) capable of displacing IT recruiters?
There’s no denying that AI has been a game-changer across all industries that have adopted it – improving the operating methods of organizations from the ground upward.
Incorporating AI into daily business activities has removed onerous repetition from many operational tasks. And there’s no denying that certain jobs will become obsolete in the near future as they can more easily and efficiently be filled by AI.
However, an AI program cannot replace the job of recruiting IT professionals. Recruiters are actually more important than ever when it comes to helping businesses fill their needs from the IT industry.
Many companies continue to have difficulty in bridging the “IT gap” and locating certified IT professionals who have the required experience to efficiently support their business operations. IT leaders, therefore, seek out staffing partners to locate such sought-after personnel, for everything from filling a single project-based role to becoming a full-time hire.
Let’s discuss two reasons why recruiters play a key role in the IT industry that AI simply cannot match.
1) Recruiters are able to connect with people on a personal level.
At its most basic, recruiting is about developing relationships. A relationship not only with the client–but with prospective IT professionals to fill that client’s needs.
Recruiters spend time developing and nurturing relationships with IT professionals. They strive to learn everything about these individuals both on a professional level – from the career path they desire and the skills they have acquired, to personal – what business environment suits them best.
The ability to form and maintain relationships with others is a vital aspect of recruiting that AI cannot duplicate, and are essential elements that enable recruiters to match IT professionals with each client according to their requirements.
AI can certainly identify candidates that possess a client’s preferred skill set “on paper,” but it cannot dive into the level that is needed for personalizing and succeeding at sourcing the ideal match between client and IT professional.
2) People skills are as essential as experience and certifications.
“People skills,” also termed “soft skills” are equally important for IT professionals to have in their tool belt. The IT professional who gets along well with team members, is able to communicate easily, and has problem-solving skills is more desirable than one who does not.
It takes a recruiter to recognize these “soft skills” when communicating with prospective candidates by phone, email, or in person.
That is not to say that new AI technologies cannot assist recruiters in their job–they can. But they cannot replace the recruiter and his or her ability to “read” people.
AI and the recruiting process
AI can help the recruiter by relieving him or her of many of the mundane tasks involved in recruitment.
New AI platforms can manage database systems and schedule appointments for interviews. AI can help the recruiter communicate with clients and with new prospects, thus freeing recruiters to focus on their core tasks.
There is no stopping the advance of AI technology. It will continue to evolve and the benefits it provides are undeniable.
But AI will never be able to replace human beings when it comes to the “personal touch” that is so important for bringing together the right candidate and the right employer.
OnX OnDemand Residency services offer project-based resources, staff augmentation solutions, and permanent hires. We have a team of more than 900 full-time recruiters and a candidate database with more than 40,000 IT professionals to ensure we can help you meet your needs.
AI can’t replace recruiters, but it does have the power to assist our IT staffing and consulting team do their jobs more efficiently. To learn more about OnX OnDemand Residency services, download our free infosheet.
