Is AI in Recruiting a Good Or Bad Thing?

In 2014 Amazon set up an engineer team to build an AI tool for use in its recruiting process.  A year after putting the program into use, Amazon discovered the system didn't like women.  Reuters reported that the system suffered from gender bias as well as selecting candidates that were unqualified for the positions.

AI is being used to improve and/or automate parts of the recruiting cycle.  In a 2018 Korn Ferry Global survey, of the 800 HR professionals surveyed, 63% said that AI had some impact on the way recruiting was being done.  But what type of impact?

AI and algorithmically based hiring is supposedly unbiased and doesn't allow for "ism's" in the selection process.  But there have long been kinks in the process.  Not all algorithms are created equal and they can carry the implicit biases of those who programmed them.

Of additional concern is the thought that there might be great organizational fits being sorted out because their resumes aren't deemed worthy by the ATS.

"Let's definitely embrace technology to help find the best people, but let us not forget that hiring great people will always be a people business."  Stephen Ley.  Is Technology Removing the Key Element of Hiring?  

Finding candidates who fit into your culture isn't an easy task.  Make sure you are using all the tools available to you in the recruiting process. whether human or AI.

The Bro Culture Exists

On November 7th SHRM released an article entitled "How Masculinity Contests Undermine Organizations and What To Do About It."  The article addressed illegal behavior, harassment and toxic leadership that develops in companies with a bro culture.

It is unfortunate that this behavior exists, but exist it does.  When faced with environments dominated by the bro culture, where actions block female employees from participating in the male-dominated decision-making circles, or exclude them from boardrooms or leadership teams, organization effectiveness is damaged.  Employee engagement deteriorates.  Talent is lost.

For women (or minorities) in these environments, there's not seat at the conference room table - they're not even in the same room.

The bro culture is an office clique.  The really bad news?  If the leadership team are all members of the bro culture, don't expect anything to change.

"Small acts of inappropriate behavior that often go unpunished in a bro culture can normalize, leading to a toxic atmosphere in the workplace."  Adam bear and Joshua Knobe wrote about normalization in the political realm for The New York Times.

My recommendation.  If you want change, change the people inside.  Change your culture.