Arun Paul, Head of HR, Orion Innovation
HR practitioners everywhere are recognizing the massive improvements Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides. But while the technology can undoubtedly boost efficiency, productivity, agility, and more, it’s important to remember that the essence of 'human' resources lies in genuine connections with candidates and employees—something that can easily be overlooked with AI. To maximize the value of AI in recruitment, it is crucial to strike a balance between transformation and authenticity.
Impact of AI on Everyday Recruitment
All our workforce is 100% AI literate. For our Talent Acquisition and Compensation teams, AI has been instrumental in day-to-day tasks. We have been utilizing AI to streamline a variety of processes such as writing job descriptions, detecting fake profiles, matching resumes, and improving the onboarding experience. We have also been exploring AI-powered, context-based question prompts in interviews to speed up candidate selection. On a larger scale, AI is being embraced by everyone in the organization through strategic process improvements and learning programs.
The results have been nothing short of transformative.
Overall, our experience with AI in hiring has led to smarter and more data-driven decisions, plus improvements in efficiency and effectiveness across the board. JD writing time has been reduced by roughly 70%%, resume search time by 50-60%, and onboarding administrative efforts by 30-40%. I believe a well-anchored AI tool can improve efficiency by 30% once adoption settles in, with potential for improvement in the future.
On top of speed and agility, AI can also enable a data-driven culture. Recruitment teams can leverage AI algorithms to analyze large volumes of data to identify top candidates based on specific criteria, leading to more informed hiring decisions.
A Balancing Act: How to Ensure a Personal Touch?
AI has the potential to revolutionize the entire talent acquisition process, but the technology also comes with risks. Aside from data privacy and security concerns, AI tools lack the crucial human element. For example, without the spontaneity of human conversations, AI-driven interviews may risk alienating candidates, impacting engagement and acceptance ratios. Striking a delicate balance is crucial to ensure that candidates feel valued and engaged throughout the hiring process.
The key is to determine areas where AI can bring the most value and where it can play a supporting role. Not all hiring needs are the same.
At Orion, we aim to utilize AI mostly for repetitive and common tasks, and for mid-level skill sets. This enables our team to focus on more strategy-driven and advisory activities. When hiring for niche skills and leadership roles, our team leverages a more balanced approach that leaves room for high touch and personalized interactions. We believe that these roles require a deeper level of understanding and engagement, which can only be achieved through a human connection.
What the Future of Recruitment Looks Like
Looking ahead, AI's influence on recruitment will only deepen. In the near future, AI may transition from being a competitive advantage to a hygiene factor, with companies increasingly relying on AI-powered tools to remain competitive in talent acquisition. As AI capabilities evolve, we can expect more sophisticated features, enabling recruiters to make even more informed decisions, streamline processes, and reduce cycle time. However, striking the right balance between AI and human involvement will be key to unlocking a future where recruitment isn't just efficient—it's empathetic, insightful, and profoundly human.
About the Author:
Arun oversees Human Resources for India operations focused on talent acquisition, development, management and learning. He has 19 years of experience across multiple aspects of the Human Resources function. Prior to Orion, Arun was associated with Incedo, Syntel Inc. (now Atos Syntel), and Tata AIG. A graduate in Law, Arun completed his MBA in HR from the International School of Business & Media in Pune, India. His professional experience includes consulting at Direction One and Jr. Advocate in the High Court of Kerala handling litigations.
