Should Investing in Emerging Technology be the Priority for Recruitment Companies?

At the start of 2023 we ran three polls on LinkedIn to investigate how our network viewed emerging technology within the recruitment industry. The idea came from a brainstorming session that descended into a nostalgic chat about some of the previous methods that came with a job in recruitment.

The results of our second poll (pictured below) showed that 58% of voters think that technology is “Extremely Important” for the future of the recruitment industry. Following the poll our Head of MEP CAD Tom Evans sat down and discussed the results of the poll.

The clearest perception we can gather on how important technology be in the next 10 years is to look back and see how much has changed in the previous 10. From qualification to aftercare, technology has made the recruitment process vastly more efficient.

The speed of our service is beyond comparison with the days in which recruiters had to fax CVs over to clients and the only way to get into contact with candidates or clients was on the work phone. Now recruiters in all fields have a wide range of candidates available within the click of a few buttons and clients can go from receiving a CV to having an initial interview booked in minutes. 

The speed of process improvement means that recruiters have a better knowledge of candidates suitability for different roles, allowing more a perfect match doesn’t go to waste – as they often did in the past.

LinkedIn is at the epicentre of this streamlined recruitment process; the platform has revolutionised the way recruiters network and find suitable candidates. With advanced search filters and AI-powered recommendations, recruiters can quickly find and connect with relevant candidates, without the need for time-consuming manual searches. LinkedIn has also transformed industry networking, providing recruiters with a platform to connect with potential clients and showcase their expertise. 

By leveraging LinkedIn's capabilities, recruiters can build strong relationships with clients and find the best candidates for their needs. With the platform's continued growth and development, it's clear that LinkedIn will only become more important in a recruiter's daily routine.

Tom describes Microsoft Teams as a “Game Changer” as it rose in popularity during the pandemic as professionals from a range of industries began working from home. Teams has now taken that initial screening process up a level as clients can book in interviews and get a good impression on the candidate without having to leave their desk. 

Looking back again to what would happen in previous years, recruiters would have to arrange for the candidate to take a day of work or as Tom says “pull a sicky” to attend the interview. Then if the job wasn’t right for the candidate or vice versa, the whole process is a waste of time for all involved.

In today’s market speed can be key, having a slick and efficient recruitment process in place will make the difference to your business securing the best talent and the latest technology certainly helps this process. Technology will undoubtedly play a key role in continuing to develop the recruitment industry; for this reason we at Streamline will continue to stay up to date with the latest trends and invest in emerging software.

We added the option of “Improving client relationships” because as a business we are firm believers in forging close working relationships with candidates and clients is always priority number one, emphasised by our core company value, “Trust is Everything”. Our focus is on working in partnership with our clients, we feel their pain in the tough times and celebrate their wins as a business as well.

As a recruitment company, building strong relationships with clients is crucial to success, particularly during times of uncertainty caused by the pandemic, Brexit, and IR35. Maintaining open communication and showing empathy towards the client's concerns can reassure them of your commitment to finding the best solutions for their recruitment needs.

Face to face meetings really can improve these relationships. It’s easy to get caught up in the ease that has come with technology, but we must remember that it should only aid our human communication, not replace it. As previously mentioned, Microsoft Teams is a big upgrade in terms of that initial screening process, but in terms of our first interactions with candidates and clients, we will always look to have that first meeting in person.

Basing your recruitment processes in this type of close human interaction also creates a stronger candidate experience. We always look to understand all our candidates current situation, their wants, their needs, their aspirations. After all people are putting their trust in us to find them the best possible next step in their career – it’s a big deal!

Recruiters will give themselves the best chance to find the perfect business for candidates by forming those key close relationships with clients. Having that deep in depth knowledge of what our candidates are looking for and then aligning that with the companies we know in the marketplace who are on the lookout for a similar skillset can only be done when these partnerships are built.

Technology can enhance the process towards this alignment of interests but it’s the people on each end of the deal that the focus should always be on, improving client relationships will truly set you aside as a recruiter. 

In both prosperous and challenging economic times, those close working relationships forged over through years of service will be key. By prioritising client relationships, you can establish trust, gain repeat business, and develop a positive reputation in the industry.