Maximizing AI Recruiting With Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

Artificial intelligence (AI) recruiting is disrupting and transforming recruitment, emphasizing the value of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO). Different talent leaders have various perspectives on how the transformation will reshape recruitment and talent acquisition. RPOA Talent Leader Council contributor Andy Riabokin predicts a rise in AI recruiting tools for resume and job description analysis but sees the real value in the interview data that assesses a candidate's skills through human interaction. Expanding on that prediction, futurist Kevin Wheeler proposed a new recruitment model at the 2023 RPOA Annual Conference, integrating human expertise and AI automation. This model, involving RPO partnerships and human resource liaisons, aims to optimize recruitment. Through RPO partnerships, employers can improve talent acquisition and achieve maximum ROI. This blog post explores Wheeler's innovative model and the value RPO providers bring to it.

The New Model of Recruiting For The Future

 Now, let's delve into Wheeler's proposed recruiting model for the future, which combines the strengths of both humans and AI's automation and augmentation functions. To listen to Wheeler describe his new model, click the video. 

Watch the full presentation by Kevin Wheeler. 

Kevin Wheeler's new recruitment process configuration consists of eight elements that include:

1. RPO Partnerships
2. Human Resource Liaisons
3. Performance Office
4. Marketing and Branding Hub
5. Self-Service Employment Hub 
6. Employee Development Hub
7. Automation and Analytics Hub
8. Recruiting Hub

Let's go over each in some detail. 

RPO Partnerships:  RPO partners will deliver the majority of candidates & hires. They'll work closely with managers, provide permanent & gig workers, facilitate internal mobility, and embed themselves into the organization. 

Human Resource Liaison: Collaborates with the performance office, marketing and branding, automation and analytics, and recruiting hub. 

Performance Office: The performance office will continuously assess performance and:

• Set strategy
• Partner with business leaders,
• Coordinate across hubs
• Develop standards
• Cultivate vendor relations
• Work with HR and analytics to decide on work composition

Marketing and Branding Hub: The small team of recruiters leading this function will:

• Have overall responsibility for talent attraction 
• Create a comprehensive marketing strategy
• Develop the talent brand
• Develop the career site
• Create job descriptions
• Work with Analytics & HR to determine workforce composition

Self-Service Employment Hub: In this hub, candidates can participate in virtual interviews and screenings and receive immediate job offers. They won't have to visit a recruiter. An interview may not be needed if candidates meet the qualifications and skills. They could be hired on the spot. This hub will be able to do the following:  

• Automate routine & volume hiring
• Enable managers to connect with candidates directly
• Develops, in partnership with analytics, automated assessments
• Liaisons with RPO/agencies.
• Assists managers in closing candidates​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Employee Development Hub: The employee development hub will focus on:

• Upskilling & reskilling to develop and provide internal candidates
• Developing apprenticeships and internships
• Partnering with external providers for training

The Automation and Analytics Hub: The automation and analytics hub will concentrate on

• Selecting tools 
• Providing process automation
• Eliminating administrative tasks 
• Collecting and analyzing people-related data
• Providing data on success traits/skills 
• Working closely with all hubs to ensure data is used

Recruiting Hub: The recruiting hub will be a multidisciplinary team comprised of members from all hubs & the business. It will focus on:

• Jobs RPO and automation cannot fill
• Internal mobility 
• University and executive recruitment
• Manager and candidate coaching

The Value Of RPO Partnerships In A Generative AI World

Employers partnering with an RPO provider have reported a measurable value of RPO. According to the 2023 RPO Value and Insights Study produced by LHRA in partnership with the RPOA, the value gained from a successful RPO partnership greatly outweighs its cost and perceived risks. Ben Eubanks, Chief Analyst at LHRA, stated, "Talent executives in our study were overwhelmingly positive in their estimations of the value brought on by their partnerships with trusted RPO providers." The benefits ranged from recruiting-specific outcomes like time to fill and consistency to business-impacting outcomes like return on investment.

How Does RPO Positively Affect a Company's Return On Investment?

According to the same study, employers with a positive return on their RPO investment see improvements in hiring metrics, such as consistency, quality, and overall success. The data from the 2023 RPO Value and Insights Study shows that employers using RPO are:

• Eighty-eight percent more likely to use the entire talent lifecycle for all roles, not just some skills or roles.
• More likely to have had the RPO relationship in place for longer, indicating that positive ROI isn't an overnight occurrence.
• Eighty percent more likely to say hiring is consistent and predictable.
• Twice as likely to say hires are of higher quality.
• Twice as likely to say the RPO partnership has improved hiring metrics overall.

The value of RPO partnerships and their positive effect on a company's return on investment highlights the importance of integrating RPO providers into the recruiting model for the future.

In Conclusion

Integrating artificial intelligence and human expertise in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) presents a promising future for talent acquisition. The proposed model by futurist Kevin Wheeler combines the strengths of both AI automation and human involvement to optimize recruitment. This model emphasizes the value of RPO partnerships and their significant effect on improving talent acquisition and maximizing return on investment (ROI) for employers. The measurable value of RPO, as highlighted in the 2023 RPO Value and Insights Study, demonstrates the positive influence of RPO partnerships on hiring metrics, consistency, quality, and overall success. As the recruitment landscape continues to evolve, RPO's role in leveraging AI tools and human collaboration is crucial for driving efficiency and effectiveness in talent acquisition.