AI has stormed the recruitment world, but somewhere between the hype and the shortcuts, we’ve lost the human touch.
Both candidates and companies are leaning heavily on AI, but for different reasons. Candidates see it as a lifeline in a brutal job market, while companies are chasing efficiency numbers to hit those ever-important KPIs.
The result? Genuine human connection is falling through the cracks.
For Candidates:
AI should amplify you, not replace you
Let’s be honest, AI has become the ultimate application shortcut. Cover letters are rolling out of ChatGPT faster than you can say “digital transformation”. It’s great to see people embracing new tools, but many are forgetting the most important step: bringing themselves back in.
Recruiters can spot an AI-generated cover letter from a mile away. (Pro tip: if your third paragraph starts with “What excites me about this role…”, you might want to change things up.)
Use AI as a middle point. Jot down your key skills, experience, and career wins, then use AI to enhance your words. From there, go back in and inject your personality, your stories, your authentic voice. The goal isn’t to create another chatbot response, it’s to create an enhanced version of you.
A quick reminder: Be mindful of what you feed into AI tools. Understanding IP boundaries isn’t just smart, it’s essential.
Your personal brand also matters more than ever when every CV looks like it came from the same free template. Small design tweaks, layout changes, or shifts in tone can make you memorable while keeping things professional.
The more you sound like you, the less you’ll sound like everyone else.
For Businesses:
Efficiency without losing your soul
Companies aren’t immune to the AI shortcut trap either. Automated screening tools and cookie-cutter job descriptions are multiplying faster than ever. Incredible talent gets skipped over or auto-declined from their perfect role just because they missed one keyword or their CV format didn’t play nicely with the ATS system.
Meanwhile, job descriptions are starting to blur together and sound like they were written by the same algorithm:
“We’re looking for a superstar unicorn who thrives in fast-paced environments and thinks outside the box! Why work for us? We’ll get back to you on that, our AI is still loading.”
The fix is surprisingly simple: balance efficiency with empathy. Keep the automation, but do not forget the basics. Set up email replies for each step of your process, send a quick personalised note, or even pick up the phone. A small human touch, even if it is just “we will update you by Friday”, goes a long way in creating a better candidate experience and building trust in your brand.
Small gestures, big impact. Efficiency is great, but not if it makes your hiring process forgettable.
The bigger picture: People still hire people
The lesson on both sides is the same. AI is a powerful tool, but it cannot replace authenticity. It can speed up processes, sharpen wording, and reduce admin, but in recruitment, people are still at the heart of everything.
AI is here to stay, the real trick is knowing how to use it well. It can help you hire faster and work smarter, but at the end of the day, it is still people who hire people.
The companies and candidates who remember this will be the ones who win.
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Written by | Indigo Harding, HR & Office Support at Data Insight
Data Insight offers specialised Data Recruitment Support to streamline your hiring process with industry-leading assessments, designed to identify top data talent and uncover the hidden gems your team needs.
If you’re struggling to find that balance, let’s talk.
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