AI’s role in recruitment and retention
For many businesses, the end of the year marks a time to reflect on their strategies, particularly when it comes to retaining staff. The results of a recent survey showed 53% of those questioned consider themselves very likely to leave their employer by the end of 2024.
How can organisations retain their top talent going into 2024? Paulette Brazzale, Lecturer in AUT’s Business School’s Management Dept spoke to HRD magazine about the importance of the hiring process in retaining talent, plus guidance on the incorporation of technology in the process.
“Technology is fantastic for reducing costs and the speed of turnaround, but in a process that involves bringing a person in to the organisation, its use comes with risks and HR should remember that.”
In the U.S, the use of technology in the hiring process has taken off using interactive AI and AI analysis of recorded video interviews; a trend likely to grow in Aotearoa.
Paulette questions the gap between a desire for authenticity and the risk of depersonalisation caused by the use of AI. “People skills are still one of the most valuable and important aspects in the majority of jobs.”
Before bringing in new AI technology, it’s also important to think about the risk around bias.
“If you’re moving to a technology solution, you need to ask how has that been validated? How do you know it’s not going to somehow skew the results in an unintended way?”
Setting out clear expectations about the role right from the start is another vistal aspect of the hiring process.
“If throughout the recruitment process you’re communicating who you are as an organisation and what the employee value proposition is throughout the recruitment process, make sure that you follow through on all those things promised.”
It’s undeniable how much of a crucial role the human aspect plays in hiring and retaining staff.
“When you think back to the real basic principles around hiring and attracting great people and getting them to stay within your organisation, it really involves a human component because as much as you’re interviewing them as potential employees, they’re also interviewing you as an organisation. It’s a two-way process.”