How will AI shape the recruitment landscape? An interview with Alex Charraudeau, LinkedIn

“We have a responsibility to be open about the future of work,” says Alex Charraudeau, who leads a team of Relationship Managers at LinkedIn working with recruitment agencies across the UK.

“The world of work is changing,” he advises. “By 2020, 28% of the ‘skills’ that are currently used by the UK workforce will be completely redundant. For the first time in history, technology is destroying jobs, rather than creating opportunities. It’s the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where emerging technologies are combining to drive change.”

For Alex, the key message is that where previous revolutions have created jobs and opportunities, this one is taking some away.

Alex’s role is working with recruiters all over UK and beyond, bringing together face to face recruitment with online and digital technologies to maximise opportunities through the right digital and marketing strategies. His message is that people need to start really looking at their current jobs and recognising that those roles might evolve or even become extinct, as a result of the development of AI.

“As recruiters, we need to nurture a more agile workforce, by helping people see which skills are going to be most relevant, how they can be found, and how to go about learning them,” he says.

In real terms, Alex gives the examples of Facebook’s Chatbot having huge potential implications for the customer service industry, or driverless vehicles having an impact on the logistics industry.

For some, evolving may be easier. Millennials, for example, cite learning and training as a key motivation for them in the workplace. Adapting and moving will be a positive and natural move. Older generations however, who will still be working in 2020, will need to consider retraining.

Alex is advising that people need to be equipped to pivot. "By using data, we can recognise where the gaps are,” continues Alex. “AI can be used to spot trends as well as read behaviours and match people with potential jobs or regions they had not previously considered.”

This does not mean recruiters will be replaced, he stresses, rather that they will need to adapt. “And they already are adapting,” he comments. “The recruitment industry is very advanced in its adoption of technology and AI - it helps recruiters see what skills and qulaifications are matched, but a human still needs to understand what motivates someone, what their passions are so face to face will sill be essential to ensure cultural fit. This is why recruitment consultants will still be so valuable.  AI will make their job easier and provide a complementary layer to the process.

“The task is to continue to involve everyone in the opportunities that are open to them, and ensure that they know the changes that are ahead.

“This is why it is the responsibility of the recruitment and tech industries to be committed to highlighting the skills that will be in demand, and helping to create paths to get people into roles in the future.” Alex concludes.