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Of bots and applicants: How AI supports recruiting

November 11, 2024
·
Tania Schober

Where AI actually reduces the workload in recruiting, which tools shaped the market in 2024, and what you should look out for regarding selection, data protection, and bias.

Ob auf LinkedIn, in den Medien oder im privaten Umfeld: Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) ist in aller Munde. Zu Recht, denn KI bietet zahlreiche Anwendungsmöglichkeiten. Besonders im Recruiting steigen die Anforderungen angesichts des Fachkräftemangels stetig. Prozesse werden komplexer und zeitaufwendiger, technische Unterstützung ist deshalb oft willkommen.

Doch vorab: Was ist künstliche Intelligenz überhaupt? Künstliche Intelligenz (englisch: Artificial Intelligence, AI) beschreibt Computerprogramme und Systeme, die menschliches Denken und Handeln simulieren. Mithilfe von Algorithmen lassen sich grosse Datenmengen in kürzester Zeit analysieren, Muster erkennen und Prognosen ableiten, die als Grundlage für Entscheidungen dienen. KI lernt dabei meist fortlaufend weiter und verbessert die Entscheidungsfindung kontinuierlich (Maschinelles Lernen).

Intelligente Helfer: So unterstützt KI im Recruiting

Im Recruiting automatisiert, optimiert oder unterstützt KI vor allem langwierige, repetitive und zeitintensive Aufgaben. Für einen Überblick erläutern wir verschiedene Einsatzmöglichkeiten und stellen dazu jeweils ein passendes KI-Tool vor.

Viele der vorgestellten Tools bieten nicht nur einzelne Funktionen, sondern kombinieren mehrere Vorteile oder decken als All-in-One-Lösung den gesamten Mitarbeiterlebenszyklus ab, von der ersten Kontaktaufnahme bis zum Austritt aus dem Unternehmen.

Hinweis: Diese Tool-Übersicht beschreibt den Stand von November 2024. Funktionsumfang, Verfügbarkeit und Anbieter haben sich seither teilweise verändert. Prüfen Sie die Angaben deshalb vor einer Auswahl direkt beim Anbieter.

Kampagnen und Content für Social Media

Beim Employer Branding und Recruiting setzen Unternehmen häufig auf Kampagnen und Content für Social Media. Ähnlich wie Stellenanzeigen lassen sich diese durch KI analysieren und auf Optimierungspotenziale prüfen. Die KI kann etwa den besten Veröffentlichungszeitpunkt, die Bildauswahl, textliche Anpassungen und die Budgetverteilung vorschlagen.

Wonderkind

Wonderkind ist eine KI-basierte Marketinglösung, die Recruiting-Kampagnen gezielt auf Social Media und anderen Online-Kanälen ausspielt. Neben klassischen Jobplattformen wie LinkedIn und Xing erreicht Wonderkind Talente auch auf Google, Instagram und Facebook, also dort, wo sie sich ohnehin aufhalten.

Das Tool analysiert automatisch Demografie, Alter, Nutzungsverhalten und Interessen der Zielgruppe und ermittelt, wie eine Stellenanzeige optimal platziert werden kann. So lassen sich sowohl aktiv suchende als auch passive, aber wechselbereite Kandidatinnen und Kandidaten ansprechen.

Optimierte Stellenanzeigen

Stellenanzeigen sind für viele Bewerbende der erste Kontaktpunkt mit einem potenziellen Arbeitgeber. Überzeugende Ausschreibungen sind deshalb entscheidend. Mithilfe einer KI lassen sich Stellenanzeigen analysieren und so optimieren, dass sie möglichst viele Talente erreichen.

Textio

Textio ist ein KI-Tool, das speziell dafür entwickelt wurde, Stellenanzeigen zu erstellen und bestehende Ausschreibungen zu optimieren. Die Software gibt in Echtzeit Feedback zu Formulierungen, Tonfall und sprachlichen Strukturen und erhöht so die Attraktivität der Anzeigen für eine breite und diverse Zielgruppe.

Besonders hilfreich ist die Fähigkeit, auf geschlechtsspezifische oder unbewusst voreingenommene Sprache hinzuweisen, die bestimmte Bewerbergruppen abschrecken könnte. Zum Zeitpunkt dieses Beitrags im November 2024 war das Tool nur auf Englisch verfügbar.

Identifizieren geeigneter Talente

Auf Jobplattformen wie LinkedIn und Xing geben potenzielle Kandidatinnen und Kandidaten bereitwillig Informationen zu ihrer beruflichen Erfahrung, ihren Qualifikationen und weiteren relevanten Aspekten. Eine KI kann diese Daten nach vordefinierten Kriterien durchsuchen und geeignete Talente identifizieren (Sourcing).

Smaile

Smaile ist ein Active-Sourcing-Service, der künstliche Intelligenz mit menschlicher Recruiting-Expertise verbindet. Anhand festgelegter Qualifikationsanforderungen durchsucht das Tool Millionen von Profilen auf LinkedIn, Xing und weiteren Quellen.

Following this, experienced recruiters verify additional factors such as willingness to change jobs, salary expectations, and relocation readiness with the talent. The company then receives a shortlist of the top candidates.

CV pre-screening

The more applications received, the more time-consuming it becomes to review and evaluate every CV. AI can automatically transfer data into the applicant tracking system and filter it based on criteria such as professional experience, qualifications, or specific skills (CV parsing).

Furthermore, AI can compare the information in a CV with the job requirements to quickly identify the most suitable talent (matching).

Textkernel

Textkernel develops AI-powered solutions for the HR and recruitment sector to make various processes more efficient.

Using CV parsing, Textkernel converts unstructured data, such as PDFs or Word documents, into a structured format that is easy to search and process. The parser automates the extraction, enrichment, and structuring of data from CVs in 29 languages.

In addition, Textkernel offers a search and matching function that helps find suitable candidates within a talent pool. The algorithm considers not only keywords but also semantic relationships, enabling a more precise match between applicant profiles and job requirements.

Communication with applicants

Chatbots have become a staple on many company and career websites. They are available 24/7 to answer applicant questions and provide information about open positions, required qualifications, and the application process. This saves HR professionals a significant amount of time, especially when dealing with recurring questions.

Olivia by Paradox

Paradox also offers a wide range of functions with its software solutions. One of these is Olivia, a recruiting assistant and chatbot that answers applicant questions and schedules interviews.

Talent can also apply directly through a conversation with Olivia, saving time and the effort of preparing traditional application documents. The chatbot can be integrated into career sites, job platforms, and social networks, and is available to applicants around the clock.

Video interview analysis

Many job interviews now take place online. AI can analyze these interviews by evaluating the gestures, facial expressions, speech patterns, and other behaviors of the interviewed talent. In doing so, it detects signals that might escape the human eye, such as subtle changes in facial expression or tone of voice.

Such analyses can provide indications of an applicant's emotions, stress levels, or confidence, giving the company additional insights into the person's personality and demeanor.

Note: This section describes the status as of November 2024. The automated evaluation of facial expressions and emotions in the application process is now subject to strict legal limitations; the EU AI Act prohibits emotion recognition in the workplace. Please verify the legality before implementing such procedures.

HireVue

HireVue is a platform that analyzes video interviews using AI. It evaluates two aspects: firstly, the verbal response—content, tone, word choice, pauses, and pronunciation—and secondly, non-verbal characteristics such as body language, hand, eye, and lip movements, as well as facial expressions.

Through machine learning, HireVue identifies patterns and trends that provide insights to HR professionals. The tool is also intended to increase objectivity in candidate assessment and significantly reduce the time required.

Assessment Center

Many companies use assessment centers during the application process to evaluate a candidate's suitability. AI can help assess test results and compare them against pre-defined benchmarks.

Gamified Behavioral Assessment by Harver

Harver offers a game-based assessment that makes cognitive and emotional traits—such as risk tolerance, empathy, assertiveness, and adaptability—visible and measurable. Analyzing gameplay behavior provides insights into a candidate's suitability and strengths.

Harver shifts the focus from traditional resumes and interviews toward a broader view of skills and potential, aiming to support a fairer, unbiased selection process.

Unlocking potential, identifying risks

The benefits of using AI are clear:

  • Einsparungen von Zeit und Kosten
  • Reduced workload for recruiters
  • Mehr Zeit für zwischenmenschliche Interaktion
  • Höhere Effektivität und Prozessqualität
  • Identifikation passender Talente
  • Objective decisions free from human bias (when applied correctly)
  • AI works around the clock

However, AI has its limits. It is only as good as the programming and the data provided by humans. Flawed programming or poor data quality can lead to biases that influence the selection process.

For example: If an AI is fed applicant data from the last 20 years to identify top talent, it may adopt unintended biases. Twenty years ago, men were often preferred over women, even when the women were better qualified. The AI does not question such outdated patterns; it reproduces them.

Critical questions also arise repeatedly regarding AI-assisted screening and sourcing:

  • What about data protection and data security?
  • Do creative applications that don't fit the standard fall through the cracks?
  • Is the recruitment process becoming dehumanized?
  • Will AI replace humans in recruiting?

To alleviate concerns about AI in recruiting, transparency and regular monitoring are essential. Open communication about the use of AI builds trust with candidates and employees. Furthermore, clear guidelines that take ethical principles and data protection regulations into account are necessary to ensure that the AI operates fairly, objectively, and in alignment with company values.

Continuous review of results is equally important. HR professionals should regularly evaluate the AI's selection processes and check that they continue to meet the desired standards, ensuring that no outdated or undesirable patterns are adopted.

It should be clear: technology does not replace the personal contact between HR professionals and candidates. AI is a tool that saves time and resources while increasing the quality and effectiveness of processes. Empathy and interpersonal interaction remain the responsibility of humans.

5 steps to finding the right recruiting tool

1. Needs assessment

  • Analyze processes: Examine existing recruiting processes to determine where automation and AI tools can provide added value.
  • Identify challenges: Determine your specific challenges, such as a long time-to-hire, too few applications, or inadequate communication.

2. Goal definition

  • Set clear goals: Define what you want to achieve with the AI tool, such as higher efficiency, a better candidate experience, or less bias in recruiting.
  • Establish success criteria: Determine measurable KPIs to evaluate the success of the implementation later on, such as cost-per-hire, candidate satisfaction, or the number of qualified applications.

3. Research

  • Tool analysis: Research various tools and their features. Consider factors such as user-friendliness, data protection compliance, integration capability, customer support, price, and customer reviews.
  • Demo versions and tests: Request demo versions or free trial periods for suitable tools to test their suitability for your needs in practice.
  • Gather feedback: Involve relevant stakeholders such as HR teams and managers in the decision-making process to take their requirements and concerns into account.

4. Integration and customization

  • Integration into existing systems: Ensure that the new tool can be integrated into your existing ATS and CRM systems.
  • Make adjustments: Customize the tool to your company's requirements so that it can be used to its full potential.
  • Employee training: If necessary, plan training sessions or workshops for the recruiting team so that all employees are familiar with the tool and use it correctly.

5. Monitoring and optimization

  • Continuous monitoring: Track tool usage and collect data on your defined success criteria.
  • Feedback and optimization: Conduct regular feedback sessions with your team to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement, then use these insights to refine your processes and how you use the tool.