What is Automated Screening in Recruitment?

Whether you’re a newly graduated HR student or an experienced HR manager, it's evident that the digitalization of recruitment is rapidly advancing. Embracing this transformation is crucial not only to stay competitive but also to reduce bias and enhance financial outcomes.

One particularly tedious and time-consuming step in the hiring process is screening resumes. Traditionally, this has required HR professionals to manually sift through a large volume of applications. However, with the advent of automated screening, these manual days are coming to an end. So, how does this make you feel about the future of recruitment?

Screening of the Past

Imagine a desk piled high with cover letters and resumes, but with a very short time-to-hire. Reading each application thoroughly becomes an impossible task, making it unlikely that you’ll:

1. Effectively identify the best candidates based on their past experiences alone.

2. Read through all applications as thoroughly as required.

With hundreds of applications at hand, speed-reading often becomes the only option. This practice, although common, is inadequate when dealing with the important task of evaluating people's livelihoods and careers. Moreover, the lack of time often makes it difficult to consider other vital parameters, such as how a candidate fits with the company’s diversity goals.

Nowadays, most HR departments utilize digital tools to support their hiring processes. The sheer volume of applicants, especially for entry-level or unqualified positions, makes it impossible to provide each candidate with the attention they deserve. Thus, digital support has become essential for recruiters to execute their tasks effectively. Digitalizing workflows allows HR professionals to focus on tasks that machines cannot handle, such as personal interactions. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the hiring process, enabling improvements where necessary.

As for screening, tools like CVScreener significantly ease this process.

Automated Screening of Candidates' Resumes

Similar to how an applicant tracking system (ATS) helps manage large volumes of applicants, an automated screening tool like CVScreener streamlines the resume review process. With advancements in machine learning, automated screening tools have evolved significantly.

These tools operate by scanning resumes for specific criteria you've defined. Using artificial intelligence, they identify the most suitable candidates based on your requirements, such as:

• Job specifics

• Education

• Previous experiences

• Location

• Skills

• Languages

• Other criteria (e.g., driver’s licenses, extracurricular activities)

Once these criteria are set, the automation begins. The AI processes all resumes in less than an hour and can generate a ranked list of top candidates, along with explanations for why these individuals were deemed suitable. This method of screening is just the first step in the automated hiring journey. Once initial candidates are identified, automated screening interviews can further streamline the process.

A New Generation of Automated Screening Tools

Building on the successes of earlier tools, more advanced solutions have emerged. Developers and recruiters have explored the potential of AI in conducting recruitment interviews. Large corporations quickly adopted these AI-based recruitment tools, although some faced challenges, such as Amazon's development of a biased AI tool. While an AI may not yet be ready to handle the entire hiring process, many reliable tools are available today.

Conversational AI platforms are one such advancement. Depending on the job, automation tools can either screen resumes or conduct text-based interviews. For instance, each applicant receives a link to an online chat interview, and the AI conducts the interview and ranks the candidates. This method provides more information about each candidate in one go, accelerating the process.

Tools like CVScreener use natural language processing to read, process, and understand human communication in text form. Automated tools, when properly programmed, can be less biased than humans, focusing solely on resume content and disregarding discriminatory factors like name, age, sex, and nationality.

Although less common, AI video interviewers are another emerging technology. These tools analyze applicants' body language, word usage, and facial expressions to provide comprehensive reports.

Trusting a machine with hiring decisions might seem daunting, but it's important to see these tools as supportive aids. Remember, you remain in control and have the final say.

For more insights on what features to look for in a resume screening tool, check out this article: Top 5 Features to Look for in a Resume Screening Tool.