Completely doing away with human interactions in the recruitment process might not be a good idea. While candidates find value in technology, they are frustrated when it overtakes the human aspect of the hiring process, according to the findings of the Tech and Touch Survey conducted by Randstad India, one of the leading players in the HR services industry in the country. 

In fact, a vast majority of the Millennials aged 21 – 26 years (79%) also subscribed to this viewpoint. A whopping 83% mentioned that technology makes the interview process more efficient but significantly less personal, with 86% of the respondents aged 36 and above believing in the same.

And while 77% of the respondents indicated that they have a positive perception of a company that employs technology tools as part of the interview process, the survey findings also clearly reflect the fact that job seekers find companies that prioritize human interaction more appealing compared to those that prioritize technology.

While technology has helped make processes more efficient, completely depending on it can have its downsides, especially when it comes to the recruitment process and finding the right talent.

An ideal candidate experience leverages technology but puts human interaction first. 

Presenting the survey insights, Paul Dupuis, MD & CEO, Randstad India said, “We are entering a new age of recruitment where technology is creating unprecedented opportunities for both employers and the employees. However, understanding & knowing the candidate better and selecting the best match requires a combination of tech and touch.  While technology, including AI, machine learning and automation, will play an increasingly important role in sourcing and selecting the right candidate for the right job, the touch piece of the recruitment process is becoming increasingly important. Leveraging technology to enable better, more personal touch is the crucial combination for sustainable growth".

In fact, 78% of the survey respondents agreed that they perform much better in personal interviews as compared to automated tests. 58% stated that an overly automated interview process would be less transparent and will not provide the essential feedback they are seeking for. 

Randstad’s Tech and Touch survey revealed candidates’ perceptions, attitudes, and expectations of the recruitment process. According to the data, 89% of the respondents agreed that an ideal interview process is one which employs a combination of technology and personal interactions.

However, more than half of the respondents (52%) cited that they have in fact gone through an interview process, where a significant part was carried out completely or aided by technology; the top three technology interventions being online interviews - Skype/Google hangout (40%), behavioral & technical online assessments (33%), followed by automated calling apps (13%).

Almost all of the survey respondents (94%) also believed that at least one round of the interview process needs human intervention. Close to 75% believed that 3 or more interactions are a must during a standard interview process to make the hiring experience feel even more personal.

“In today’s hyper competitive environment, an organization’s ability to adapt the hiring process to the expectations of the diverse candidate community will certainly have a direct impact on its efforts to be a talent magnet. In fact, a strong employer brand has become a key trigger for growth and long-term success", he added.

Technology in recruitment: the future

76% of the survey respondents commented that they expect almost half of the interview process in the future to be fully automated and tech-driven, without any kind of human interventions and a vast majority (89%) also said they would be open to interacting with technology tools as part of the interview process in the future.

78% mentioned that the availability of technology tools makes it definitely easier to find and apply for jobs today and 43% also agreed that social and professional networks are the most effective channels through which one can find a job, followed by recruitment agencies and job boards, according to 29% and 24% respectively. 

Tech or Touch? What’s more appealing to the job seeker?

88% mentioned that they would be more inclined to join a company where the HR team engages with them personally during the pre-joining period. This view was echoed more significantly by respondents aged 36 and above (91%).

The Randstad Tech and Touch survey was conducted online with a sample size of around 2500 candidates, out of which 70% were employed and 24% were job seekers. 43% of the survey respondents belonged to the age group of 27-35 years and around 27% were from the age group of 21-26 years. Majority of the respondents (34%) were from the IT/ITeS sector, followed by Manufacturing and BFSI at 18% and 11% respectively. 

Clearly, the battle of tech vs humans has just begun!