What Is the Potential of Chatbots in Recruitment?

Last Updated: December 16, 2021

Chatbots can help businesses screen, vet, and communicate with candidates more efficiently than manual recruiting processes. This article helps you review the benefits of developing a chatbot for your recruitment needs.

The Potential of Chatbots in Recruiting

Chatbots are causing a buzz in many digital circles, but employee recruiting isn’t one of them. At least, not yet.

According to a Clutch surveyOpens a new window , only 3% of current job applicants communicate with employers using chatbots. But experts believe that chatbots can provide value for recruiters and HR professionals.

Chatbots, when used properly, can provide both customer service and candidate screeningOpens a new window functions to help businesses with recruiting efforts.

This article will gauge the potential for chatbots to become a larger part of the recruiting landscape and share how businesses can begin implementing chatbots in their recruiting processes.

Making the Candidate Experience Better

Advances in AI have improved the functionality of chatbots. Many people now have no issue initiating conversations without a live person on the other end. For many, getting simple answers on a 24-hour basisOpens a new window makes chatbots valuable to the communications process.

Job seekers also value the ability to receive responses and confirmations of submitted application materials.

A consistent pattern of communication makes companies more attractive to candidates. The messaging capabilities that chatbots provide make building a rapport easy and intuitive.

Chatbots can ask choice questions and make sure the conversation is comfortable. They also can provide static details that are often requested by job seekers, such as, dress code, hours, paid time off, and salary range.

Overall, chatbots have the capability to make the candidate experienceOpens a new window better.

Improving Recruitment for Employers

Chatbots also provide a host of benefits for the employer in the recruiting process. AI systems constantly record details of interactions between candidates and companies, which can help recruiters find the right candidates more quickly.

For example, chatbots can be utilized to conduct the initial screening process. A chatbot can be programmed to ask specific questions about a candidate’s qualifications and history, such as, work experience, previous company details, specialized skills, and areas of interest.

Once the conversation is complete, chatbots can use machine learning to mine the conversation and determine if the candidate is relevant for the position. By assessing the job requirements, the conversation, and the candidate’s resume details, the chatbot can decide whether a candidate has the desirable skills and experience to advance in the process.

As more interactions occur, chatbots become more adept at identifying qualified candidates, streamlining your company’s recruiting process.

One example of an effective recruiting chatbot is the Mya platform. Mya can “talk” and engage with a candidate through a messaging app while recording the interaction with the job-seeker. Mya can also increase a company’s recruiting productivity by pre-qualifying candidates quickly and easily with less strain on HR personnel.

Finally, a chatbot can be employed to gather details for the rest of the hiring process, such as, availability for future interviews and the contact information of references.

Chatbots can make hiring a quick and easy process for employers.

Also Read: What is a Learning Management System (LMS)?Opens a new window

Limitations of Recruitment Chatbots

While AI is improving and chatbots are becoming more prevalent, a number of challenges remain for employers hoping to utilize chatbots in the recruiting process.

Despite technological advances, chatbots cannot fully replicate human thinking.

For example, if a candidate uses slang or vernacular to answer a question, the chatbot will most likely misinterpret the information and miss the context of the answer. This can have the adverse effect of disqualifying candidates, who are otherwise great fits for a position. 

Chatbots also are not generally programmed to handle unusual questions about a company. If a candidate asks a chatbot a question it hasn’t encountered before or is not programmed to answer, it may provide an irrelevant answer, disappointing and confusing the candidate.

Are Chatbots Worth Developing for Recruiting?

It’s understandable for companies to be uneasy about using chatbots in the recruiting process. However, developing a chatbotOpens a new window can streamline the recruitment process, reduce the burden on recruiters, and make the company more attractive to candidates.

As long as a company understands the limitations and risks, chatbots can be a valuable tool to find the next generation of employees and employers.

Also Read: Choosing the Right Time and Attendance Tool for Any BusinessOpens a new window

Seamus Roddy
Seamus Roddy

Content Writer and Marketer, Clutch.co

Seamus Roddy is a Content Writer for Clutch, a B2B research, ratings, and reviews company in Washington, D.C. His research focuses on HR companies and trends.
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