Reset the employee experience from day zero

Are we failing the next generation?

Recently two of my children tried to find part-time work with two very different outcomes.

It made me question what path we are on in our race to automate, to embed AI into our processes and practices and to focus on productivity gains.

Here’s what happened.

Child 1 took their CV to the store they wanted to work in to learn the art of customer service, but no one would take it - applications are all online through an AI recruitment process. They had two computer based interviews without meeting a single person.
They didn’t succeed.
Why? There’s no one to give an answer. They received a standardised email of regret and encouragement to apply again, yet have no idea what they need to change to be more appealing as an applicant.

Child 2 hit the pavement too. They approached a local business they were interested in working at and though they had nothing available, two suppliers who were there each offered child 2 a job.
Why? Because they showed courage, initiative and a willingness to work.

Child 1 has these qualities too, but the process they went through doesn’t see them. So while Child 2 is buoyed and filled with confidence, Child 1 has been left confused, feeling isolated and despondent with a “system I don’t fit in”

It is a tricky position to find myself as a parent, an employer and a consultant. “What experience do we want to give our children entering the work place?” is a different question to answer to “How can we streamline our recruitment process?” Whatever recruitment needs we have, we should be intentional in the question we ask ourselves.

Why? These interactions affect our affinity to the businesses involved. Yet, I wonder how many recruitment processes are seen through a brand marketer’s lens?

I don’t know about you, but I’m all for putting the humanity back into Human Resources and providing greater care and kindness to people putting their courage to the test in applying for roles.

And making it a brand experience worth sharing.

Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash