Recruiter Technology, Why are we afraid!

Apologies for taking so long to follow up on my initial blog!

My excuse is that I got really caught up in work, as all recruiters know we sometimes get so busy that thinking becomes difficult, let alone putting our thoughts down. (Still just an excuse though)

I have also been really busy as it is almost time to launch my new product http://www.jobresponder.com and wow I feel really great about it! It is turning out even better then I hoped, the tech and graphics guys have done a great job putting my dream into reality. Please check it out if you get a chance, I really appreciate feedback and I believe managing your ad response and response screening will never be as difficult again. (If you think I am trying to sell you on it, well, yes I am. I suppose that is one benefit of your own blog you can do a bit of selling now and then.)

Anyway, this brings me to an interesting topic which I am sure we have all discussed in length and with much passion and often fear. The replacement of recruiters by technology!

I have heard from some clients as well as recruiters trying to develop new clients that some feel our days are numbered, as technology e.g. on-line job portals / boards both general and per company created will soon replace us. "What, Technology in Recruitment, Never I Say!" (My attempt at sarcasm).


These are my thoughts on the matter: what are yours?

Technology is fantastic! A great tool for Recruiters and should be embraced with open arms. Many recruiters are afraid of technology, they would still prefer to work with flip cards and say that anyone using technology is not a "Real Recruiter!

I say: ignore technology and real recruiter or not your business is doomed, it will not last long into the future.

Technology is not a replacement for recruiters but a powerfull tool to assist us, make us more productive, give us more reach, make us more competitive. We should (in fact must) welcome it as many other industries and professions do. How many accounting packages are out their that could and in many cases do replace accountants in certain areas, yet the demand for accountants is still huge.
Why are we so insecure about our industry!

I know Recruiters have taken a battering over a long, long time, but one thing we can not doubt is that we are nesessary, in fact essential? We to are always in demand - even if some folk like to tell us otherwise.

We have had clients try their own portal / database, only to realise how difficult the Recruitment function actually is, mainly their own portal only brings about more work and less recruitment success as they get piles of responses who they can never use but they still need to manage.

They mainly come back for our assistance, even if it is with their portal as an additional tool.

So we should be getting in first, start using the excellent technology available to us, become recruitment technology experts and then use this knowledge to our advantage, sell our skill to our clients, using this knowledge and ability as a strong benefit to using us.

If clients want to use technology in recruiting we should be involved in this process, tell them what could help, introduce then to technologies using your expertise. this may seem like a bad business approach, but at leat if you introduce them to technology that you know, you have the control and can make yourself indispensible as part of the recruitment process using the technology, show them how using your services and skills in conjunction with technologh is the best choice and will lead to the best recruitment - give them benefits, benefits, benefits!
this is better then trying to persuade them not to use recruitment or just waiting for your business with them to possibly shrink. Where's the control in that - and even if they find their technology does not work without a recruiter who says they will return to you.

So lets get on the web, start looking for and researching recruiter technology that meets our needs, get out of the Arc and into the recruiter cruise liner and show the world that we are truly essential and not to be taken lightly.

P.S.
When we use technology we encourage more to be developed in our area as it becomes worth while. I have noticed that while their is excellent technology available to us it is limited compared to other areas.

Anyway these are some of my thoughts and feelings on the subject, hope they are of interest to some and encourage some action and thought.

Please let us know your thoughts, I don't mind if you really despise what I say, love it or just feel it is not really of much interest! It's just my outlet for some creative side of me (I enjoy writing, good or bad!)