Is ChatGPT really a must have for recruiters?
Recruiting new employees is a crucial process for any organization and finding the right candidates can be a challenging task. The traditional hiring process often takes a lot of time and resources. It can be difficult to sift through the large number of applicants to find the most suitable or, conversely, to find the few suitable candidates. It is a good thing that technological evolution does not stand still and new solutions are emerging to make this process more efficient and effective. Generative artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT is one such solution that has been in the spotlight lately.
In fact, many companies have already started using generative artificial intelligence in recruiting, claiming it can make the hiring process faster, more efficient, and less biased. The potential to revolutionize the recruiting industry is already a hot topic of discussion.
(This article is the result of asking ChatGPT questions about the potential and the risks of its use in recruitment, added with my reflections.)
What is Generative AI?
Generative AI like ChatGPT is an AI powered chatbot that can be used for a variety of purposes including recruitment. It is designed to understand natural language (natural language processing) and generate human answers to questions (generative AI). For now, openAI's ChatGPT is the only one available on the market, as Microsoft is experiencing some teething problems with Bing, Google is still working on Bard, and Facebook has only just announced LLama.
Nevertheless, this technology already appears to be an ideal tool for interacting with applicants and other applications in the recruitment process.
Some recruitment options
Initial Screening: The first step in the hiring process is usually the screening of applicants' resumes. However, this can be a time consuming task and it can be challenging to identify the most suitable candidates based on their CV alone. ChatGPT can be used to ask applicants some preliminary questions about their qualifications, experience and skills, then analyze their answers to determine if they are a good fit for the position. This can save recruiters a lot of time and effort and help them focus on the most promising candidates.
Answer frequently asked questions: Applicants often have many questions about the organization, the job requirements and the application process. ChatGPT can be programmed to answer these questions and provide applicants with the information they need. This can save recruiters a lot of time as they don't have to repeatedly answer the same questions. Moreover, ChatGPT can be available 24/7 making it easy for applicants to get their questions answered at any time.
Job Matching: ChatGPT can use machine learning algorithms to match job requirements with applicants' skills, experience and qualifications. This can help recruiters identify the most suitable candidates for the position and ensure that the hiring process is more objective and efficient.
Conduct job interviews: ChatGPT can be used to conduct initial interviews with candidates. It may ask questions related to the job requirements and the candidate's qualifications, experience and skills. The AI-powered chatbot can then analyze the responses and provide recruiters with a list of the most promising candidates for the next round of applications. This can save recruiters a lot of time and help them focus on the most suitable candidates.
To give feedback: ChatGPT can provide feedback to candidates after the application process has been completed. It can provide suggestions for improvement and identify areas where the candidate has performed well. This can help candidates understand their strengths and weaknesses and help them better prepare for future interviews.
Candidate engagement: ChatGPT can be used to connect with candidates and update them on the status of their application. It can send automated messages to applicants to keep them informed about the recruitment process and give them feedback on their application. This can improve the candidate experience and help build a positive employer brand.
ChatGPT integrates with existing recruiting software, making it easy to use and adaptable to the needs of the organization.It does need to be trained on specific job requirements and applicant data to improve accuracy and effectiveness.
No benefits without risks
Risk of a distorted recruitment process
AI algorithms are only as good as the data they're trained on, and if the data is biased, the AI will replicate those biases. For example, if the training data only contains resumes of a certain race or gender, the AI will learn to favor candidates from that specific group. This can lead to a biased hiring process, which is not only unethical, but can also lead to legal problems for the organization.
For your information, such biases in the algorithm were discovered in the initial release of ChatGPT.
The question that arises with a technology that “learns” from the open internet is: “If the world around us has biases of its own, will generative AI be able to remove them?” - H.M.
Risk of insufficient personal contact
Recruitment is not only about finding the right skills and qualifications, but also about finding the right match with the company culture. While AI algorithms can screen resumes and applications, they can't make human connections or understand the nuances of a candidate's personality, work ethic or potential. Besides, 65-70% of Human communication happens without using words (non-verbal behaviour).
Risk of over-dependence on technology
Indeed, the hiring process involves many factors that cannot be captured by algorithms alone, such as the ability to communicate effectively, problem-solving skills and teamwork. These properties are difficult to quantify and cannot (yet) be fully assessed by machines.
In time, "creation lazyness" will turn against the lazy creators, who "forget" that despite the enabling function of technology, work is still about people and skills. Don't become the pilot who crashed the plane because he didn't remember how to fly without an auto-pilot.
Risk of legal implications and reputational damage
The use of AI in recruitment also raises ethical concerns. AI algorithms may be able to discriminate against certain candidates based on their age, gender, race or other protected characteristics. At the same time, an algorithm can never be held accountable and a legal entity must take responsability for its choices.
Before using AI in recruiting, make sure you are covered against any lawsuites that could arise from the discrimination, because the AI is biased.
On top of that a final warning to be carefull, because ChatGPT still has some explaining to do when it comes down to intellectual property rights and internet security. Do you know what happens with your corporate information once it is used for ChatGPT? Me neither... (yet Google got away with it too in its early days).
What does this mean for the recruiter?
Generated by Hans Mangelschots with DALL.E2 (https://openai.com/product/dall-e-2)
However, it is important to note that a solution like ChatGPT should not completely replace human recruiters. While it can automate many aspects of the hiring process, it cannot replace the human touch when it comes to evaluating cultural fit and soft skills. Human recruiters still have a vital role to play in the hiring process, especially in the final stages of interviews and decision-making.
Conclusion
Thus, ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for recruiters looking to streamline the hiring process and improve the Candidate Experience. It can automate many aspects of the process, including initial screening, job matching, and candidate engagement, saving recruiters time and effort so they can focus on the things that really matter.
The risks of bias, lack of personal contact, over-reliance on technology, ethical concerns and security, make it imperative for companies to carefully evaluate the use of AI in recruitment and ensure it is used ethically and responsibly.
"Ultimately, recruitment is a human process that requires human connection and judgment, and AI cannot replace that." - ChatGPT