Personal Interaction Is Key to Job Seekers' Positive Application Experience

Those looking for new work encounter aspects of automated hiring in nearly every job search.  In our latest Job Seeker Survey, we asked recent applicants about the impact of technology, AI and automation on their job search and their experiences during the hiring process. While respondents prefer personal interaction during the hiring process, they show less aversion to certain elements of automated hiring. 

Hiring automation refers to the use of technology to streamline and automate specific manual workflows related to the hiring and recruitment process. The goal being to enhance efficiency and improve the overall experience. However, this efficiency can often come at the expense of offering a human element to those applying for job openings. 

This delicate balance between automation and personal interaction raises important questions about job seekers' attitudes towards hiring technologies. Examining these attitudes can offer valuable insights for employers aiming to hire the best workers as fast as possible. 

Job Seekers' Attitudes Towards Hiring Automation

Employers need to streamline their hiring process to ensure they have the best chance of acquiring quality talent. However, relying completely on technology can create new challenges. It is vital for employers to recognize the importance of personal interactions. Our survey data highlights a significant majority of job seekers who emphasize the value of human connection during the hiring process. A considerable 68% of respondents feel that technology cannot fully substitute the need for personal interaction, and 72% believe that personal engagement is essential. This preference for a human touch validates the need for employers to achieve a balance between leveraging automation for efficiency and maintaining personal interactions to ensure a comprehensive and empathetic hiring experience.

Personal Interaction Helps Employers and Job Seekers 

Personal interaction is essential to instilling a sense of trust and transparency in the hiring process. It provides an opportunity for candidates to showcase their personality, ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the company culture and values. This human connection helps to build rapport and ensures that both the employer and the job seeker can evaluate mutual fit beyond the qualifications listed on a resume. Furthermore, personal interactions allow for nuanced communication, enabling job seekers to express their enthusiasm and demonstrate soft skills, which are often best conveyed through face-to-face or voice conversations.

This personalized approach not only enhances the candidate experience but can also strengthen the employer's brand reputation. However, it's important to note that there are strategic moments within the hiring process where automation can be beneficial without sacrificing the need for human interaction. Understanding when to leverage automated hiring can significantly improve efficiency while ensuring that key touchpoints remain personal and engaging.

When Employers Should Leverage Automated Hiring

Job seekers are likely to encounter elements of automated hiring during the early phases of their search. Companies are increasingly automating some of the more administrative tasks like candidate sourcing, screening and resume review. 

Job seekers prefer less personal interaction during the early stages of the job search, such as sourcing and screening. This may be because they are more accustomed to AI and automation in these areas. 

Having personal interaction is most valued when job seekers are applying for a specific role, when interviewing and, to a lesser extent, when exploring job opportunities. These are the areas within a hiring process where employers can focus on providing a human element. Whether working with a staffing agency to deploy recruiters during the applying process or having someone from human resources or a hiring manager conduct the interview(s). Ultimately, these personal interactions ensure that the hiring process remains balanced and human-centric, which is important for both employers and candidates. 

Our survey also highlights a current paradox regarding the overall job seeker experience with automation and its intended purpose. While employers use automation to streamline and better organize the hiring process, job seekers are slightly more likely to feel it has made the process less transparent and slower. 

To address this viewpoint and optimize the hiring process, employers should focus on enhancing personal interactions during interviews, as this aspect is highly valued by job seekers. Simultaneously, investing in automation for tasks such as screening, offer notifications and onboarding can streamline operations and increase efficiency. By combining meaningful personal engagement with the benefits of automation, companies can create a transparent, responsive and satisfying hiring journey for candidates.

Striking the right balance between human interaction and automation is crucial in the hiring process. Employers should leverage technology to increase efficiency and organization but must not lose sight of the importance of personal engagement. This balanced approach not only enhances the candidate experience but also strengthens the overall effectiveness of the recruitment process.