In a recent Elite Recruiter podcast episode, host Benjamin Mena interviewed Katrina Collier, author of The Robot-Proof Recruiter, about the changing recruitment market and the importance of staying relevant in the age of AI. Katrina Collier shared her background in recruitment, starting as a trainee recruitment consultant after moving to London from Australia. She also discussed the lack of education around the recruitment profession and the importance of improving candidate experience and recruitment practices.

 The conversation centered around Collier's book, The Robot-Proof Recruiter, which argues that recruiters cannot be replaced by technology. The book aims to help recruiters understand the challenges of recruitment in a digital age and how to stand out in a crowded market. Collier emphasized the importance of treating candidates with compassion and kindness, pushing back on hiring managers when necessary, and doing proper intakes to ensure a better human experience. The book has received contributions from 85 people worldwide, making it a comprehensive manual that recruiters need to read. Collier donated her royalties from the book to a charity that aims to end modern-day slavery.

 The conversation also touched on the impact of the pandemic on recruitment and the need for more education about the profession. The speakers discussed the impact of overhiring in the recruitment industry and how it affects people's lives. They talked about how companies knee-jerk react to economic changes by firing TA teams, the lack of awareness among recruiters about the slowing of hiring, and the responsibility of the C Suite in signing off on requisitions. They also discussed the impact of irresponsible hiring on people's lives, emphasizing the need for recruiters to remember the compassion and empathy that they lost during the pandemic.

 The conversation then turned to the impact of AI on recruiters. Collier expressed skepticism, stating that AI will only create more noise and spam unless the person using the tool is creative and curious enough to personalize messages. They also gave an example of a highly personalized message from 2015 that went viral on Twitter but did not elicit a response from the recipient. The speakers also touched upon the issue of overhiring by companies and the need for the C-Suite to be held accountable for the impact on people's lives. However, they remained optimistic that the job market will eventually level out.

 The speakers provided advice for recruiters, emphasizing the importance of being more creative and trying different methods to get in touch with hiring managers. They emphasized the need for a proper job intake process, as it is the most overlooked part of the hiring process. Recruiters were encouraged to spend time upfront with hiring managers to understand their needs and not to accept outdated job descriptions. The conversation also highlighted the need to look forward and understand what the company really needs, and the importance of getting hiring managers to invest time upfront to save time and money in the long run. The conversation ended with the advice to drop attitudes and partner with hiring managers to fill roles.

 Katrina Collier LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinacollier/

Robot

Proof Recruiter Book: https://amzn.to/41qGvUy

Katrina Collier Website: https://katrinacollier.com/

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