We’ve been talking about automation in recruiting for a long time. The AI developments of the last two years have significantly shifted the landscape of what is possible with automation, making it a strategic imperative rather than a nice-to-have. However, the current situation is pretty problematic. Some recruiters and TA teams are doing it poorly, particularly in outreach, inundating candidates with generic, obviously AI-generated messages that all sound the same. Meanwhile, many recruiting teams are resisting automation entirely, concerned about losing the human connection that actually fills roles.

At the same time, in a world of AI sameness, brand, reputation, and genuine relationships with a talent pool are becoming the real competitive advantage and the key factor that actually drives response.

So how do recruiters balance automation with authenticity while building the credibility that cuts through the noise?

My guest this week is Mark Whitby, founder of The Resilient Recruiter podcast. In our conversation, he discusses what should be automated, what must remain human, why investing in your brand now will determine your future success, and the role external recruiters can play in rebuilding trust in the hiring process.

In the interview, we discuss:

• The current situation with automation in recruiting

• Reticence, bad strategies, and poor implementations

• The importance of the personal touch

• What are the essentially human parts of the hiring process?

• Multi-touch and multi-channel outreach

• How external agencies can help build trust with candidate

• How will AI change the agency market?

• The vital importance of brand and relationship building

• What will the future look like?

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