3 ways companies can use AI and automation to elevate hiring workflows

By Anne Peire, Group Director, Fountain

June 1 2023 - In recent months, it has been almost impossible to ignore the conversation around new large language models and the things that they can help people do more easily. Naturally, there will be many wondering what benefits this might bring to talent acquisition and retention.

These benefits come at a critical time, too, as many sectors across the UK face acute employee shortages. For example, the Food and Drink Federation has reported that the UK's food and drink industry is facing a labour shortage, with up to 30% of roles remaining unfilled. Elsewhere, the British Chamber of Commerce has warned that the UK's manufacturing industry is facing a "severe" shortage of workers, with 69% of companies in the sector struggling to recruit skilled staff, whilst the Royal College of Nursing has also highlighted skill shortages that they believe are impacting patient care.

Many organisations are already using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make their hiring processes more efficient and improve the candidate experience. Applicant Tracking Systems that use AI are able to help organisations speed up their hiring process, give them more time to focus on the top candidates, and help them reach candidates who may not have the same access to the tools needed to conduct a job search.

In order for hiring teams to find and recruit the most qualified and ready-to-work candidates, they must know how to pull the right levers and configure the best workflows within any applicant tracking system (ATS). Here are the ways in which companies are doing this today that are helping them succeed:

From found to hired

Many organisations struggle to efficiently track and qualify candidates for hourly jobs; after all, it can be a time-consuming step-by-step process. However, with the help of automation and an AI-powered ATS, you can streamline these processes and focus on the candidates who are most qualified for open positions.

Using an AI-powered ATS, it is possible to automate background checks and verify a candidate's credentials through automated document scanning, freeing up your team's time to focus on other important tasks. Customisation capabilities within workflows allow you to create the best matches and tailor the hiring process to the preferences of ideal candidates.

Speed is key in the hiring process, especially when candidates are applying to multiple jobs at the same time. Best-in-class AI features like chatbots can eliminate tedious stages like answering basic application questions, collecting contact information, and scheduling interviews, resulting in a faster time-to-hire.

Improving the candidate experience

With the ongoing challenges presented by the tight labour market in the UK, it's more important than ever to create a frictionless hiring journey. Modern ATS technology allows candidates to apply for jobs via mobile phones and provides immediate responses via automated messages, ensuring that HR teams have the time and resources to address pressing matters and fill positions quickly.

Don't risk missing out on top candidates by relying on outdated recruitment processes. By implementing AI and automation in your workflows, you can create a more efficient and effective hiring process that benefits both your team and the candidates you're looking to hire.

Putting it into practice

As talent acquisition teams are asked to take on more responsibility across the lifecycle of a candidate’s application, an AI onboarding integration can support this evolution. Onboarding is a highly engaged, human experience which can dictate whether those employees are successful and stay with the company long term; according to a study by Glassdoor, employees who had a positive onboarding experience were 69% more likely to stay with a company for three years or more. This means that talent acquisition teams need a fully optimised hiring process that makes this as easy as possible and shows candidates that their needs and preferences are being met.

Organisations that are leveraging optimised hiring workflows are cutting their time-to-hire from weeks to days, whilst reducing costs and finding the candidates that best fit their needs. More importantly, through a customised workflow that suits candidates, those that are employed already have a sense that their new employer understands them and cares about their needs. Having an engaged and committed workforce is more important than ever, and creating this should start the minute an application is sent.

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