Powering Up the Application Process with AI-Driven Chatbots

Many tech companies are promoting how Artificial Intelligence will change our lives. However, it is difficult to understand how AI can effectively reduce our workload.

For talent sourcing and human resources, there is one opportunity that is more of a low-hanging fruit for implementing AI.  This opportunity is in the use of AI-powered chatbots during the application process.

Why Chatbots? The reason for recruiting professionals to consider the implementation of rule-based chatbots is threefold.

60-percent-quite-application-due-to-difficulty.

  1. Chatbots can increase the number of submitted applications on a job posting.
  2. Chatbots can be used to complete some initial qualifications for a potential candidate.
  3. Chatbots can help source contact information for passive candidates that visit your career center.

By using these intelligent virtual assistants, recruiters can see an enhancement in crucial long-term success metrics while creating better engagement with potential candidates.

Increasing Your Application Completion Ratio with Chatbots

Recruiters need help to hire the best candidates. This means they need to ensure that a large percentage of the candidates who begin the application process complete it. However, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), nearly 60% of all applicants will quit the application process if they perceive it as easy and straightforward.

This statistic highlights the importance of creating a user-friendly and streamlined application process.

If the application process is too complicated, candidates are more likely to give up and search for other opportunities. The same goes if the process takes too long or is confusing. This can lead to a significant loss of potential talent for recruiters.

To overcome this challenge, recruiters need to design their application process to be as straightforward and intuitive as possible and consider using a chatbot to guide their applicants through the process.

AI-powered chatbots are becoming increasingly popular in recruitment as they help applicants finish applications or collect their contact info.

These chatbots utilize artificial intelligence technology to provide a user-friendly and conversational interface that guides candidates through the application process naturally and engagingly.

One of the key advantages of these AI-powered chatbots is their ability to offer real-time assistance to applicants. They are programmed to understand and respond to queries, clarifying any doubts candidates may have during the application process. This can be particularly helpful for candidates needing clarification on specific requirements or additional information before proceeding with their application.

Furthermore, these chatbots are designed to engage with applicants conversationally, making the application process more interactive and enjoyable. They can understand human language and respond accordingly, mimicking a real conversation with a human recruiter. This enhances the candidate experience and increases the likelihood of applicants completing their applications.

In addition, AI-powered chatbots can also collect and store applicants’ contact information, allowing recruiters to follow up with candidates easily. This eliminates the need for candidates to manually input their details reducing the risk of errors or omissions.

AI chatbots simplify job applications, offer instant help, and gather applicants’ contact details, making them vital in the hiring process. Their user-friendly and conversational interface makes them an effective tool for engaging candidates and increasing application completion rates. With their ability to mimic human conversation and offer instant support, these chatbots are revolutionizing how organizations interact with candidates during the application process.

AI-driven chatbots can also create a more personalized and interactive application experience, resulting in higher conversion rates and a more diverse pool of candidates.

Performing Initial Candidate Qualification

Recruiters face the daunting task of going through numerous job applications, many of which may need to meet the job requirements. This manual screening process can be incredibly time-consuming, as recruiters must carefully review each application to determine its suitability. Moreover, human bias can inadvertently come into play during this process, potentially leading to unfair judgments or overlooking qualified candidates.

Organizations are increasingly turning to AI-driven chatbots to address these challenges as an initial filtering mechanism. By implementing chatbots effectively, recruiters can streamline the screening process and alleviate their workload.  Chatbots can ask applicants questions about skills, qualifications, and experience to find suitable candidates who meet the requirements.

AI-driven chatbots are available 24/7, allowing applicants to submit their information and receive immediate feedback at their convenience.  Chatbots can efficiently handle the initial screening round, eliminating the need for recruiters to review applications manually.  They can also be programmed to provide personalized responses, making applicants feel engaged and valued.

Furthermore, AI-driven chatbots remove the potential for human bias in the initial screening stage. Unlike humans, chatbots do not have preconceived notions or unconscious biases that can affect their judgment. They evaluate candidates based solely on the predetermined criteria set by the organization, ensuring a fair and objective screening process.

Using AI chatbots to complete the first steps of the recruitment process can boost efficiency, lessen manual work for recruiters, and decrease the chance of human bias.  This saves recruiters valuable time and ensures qualified candidates can proceed to the following stages of recruitment. In contrast, candidates that do not meet the initial criteria can be notified of other opportunities that may be a better match based on their skills.

Nurturing Candidate Engagement

Often, recruiters will see a large number of views and impressions on their postings with a lower number of actual applicants.  Why?  Because many of the candidates who view these openhiring-stat-about-AI-usage-in-interview-process positions are passive candidates.

When using Chatbots, remember their purpose is not just to promote and encourage job applications. While it is essential to attract potential candidates, it is equally, if not more, important to collect their contact information. Capturing this information allows for further engagement with passive candidates, ensuring that a human team member can reach out to them personally.

By obtaining the contact details of candidates through Chatbot Technology, businesses can extend their efforts beyond the automated system. This additional step enables a more personalized approach, where a human representative can establish a direct connection with the passive candidate.
Engaging with passive candidates is particularly valuable as they may not actively seek new employment opportunities. These individuals are potential hidden gems who may possess the skills and qualifications that align perfectly with a particular job opening. Companies can initiate conversations with these candidates by accessing their contact information and presenting them with suitable job opportunities.

When a human team member takes over the interaction, it allows for a more dynamic and customized conversation. Unlike Chatbots, human representatives possess emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to understand candidates’ nuanced needs and preferences. This human touch can significantly enhance the candidate experience and increase the likelihood of successful recruitment.

A successful engagement process can decrease uncertainty and prevent candidates from losing interest and quitting. This is achieved by creating a clear and helpful way to communicate. By deploying this nurturing approach improves the candidate’s experience and enhances the employer’s brand image.

Engage Smarter with SmartSearch

One of the key benefits of AI in recruitment is increased efficiency. Traditional recruitment processes often involve manual and time-consuming tasks, such as reviewing numerous resumes, conducting initial screenings, and scheduling interviews. AI technology can automate these processes using a digital knowledge base to save recruiters valuable time and allow them to focus on more strategic aspects of their job.

AI-powered algorithms can quickly scan and analyze resumes, identifying the most qualified candidates based on specific criteria. This speeds up the hiring process and ensures recruiters can locate top talent more effectively.

 

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AI also offers a higher level of personalization in the hiring process. By leveraging AI, recruiters can create more tailored experiences for candidates. By using this technology to analyze candidate data, such as resumes, cover letters, and online profiles, recruiters gain helpful insights to make better decisions.  Using this information, they can interact with candidates in a more personalized and targeted way, resulting in increased engagement.

AI technology has leveled the playing field for employers. In the past, larger organizations with extensive resources often had an advantage in attracting and recruiting top talent. However, AI has democratized hiring by providing smaller companies access to advanced tools and technologies. AI-powered recruitment platforms are now available to organizations of all sizes, allowing them to compete for talent effectively.

This means that candidates are now evaluated based on their qualifications and fit for a role rather than the reputation or resources of the employer. As a result,  AI has streamlined how employers find and hire the best candidates based on their abilities.

AI has changed how we hire, but we must be careful with its use. It’s important to think about how AI  and Machine Learning is used in hiring and the consequences if used wrongly.

This is why SmartSearch proudly offers customizable AI solutions for our users.  AI Smart by SmartSearch provides automated candidate matching and sourcing tools for employers to engage with qualified candidates effectively.  If you’d like to learn more about these AI capabilities designed for talent-sourcing professionals, CLICK HERE.

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