One of the areas of HR in which AI is having the most measurable impact is recruiting. And that’s not just because it’s driving down time-to-fill and speeding up candidate scheduling (though it is)—AI in recruiting is completely redefining the role of the recruiter, creating new strategic opportunities for talent professionals.

That was a major theme at this month’s IAMPHENOM conference in Philadelphia, hosted by talent intelligence platform Phenom, where talent leaders across sectors emphasized the ongoing transformative force AI is bringing to recruiting.

According to recent research from The Josh Bersin Co., about 60% of recruiters are deploying AI in their work—from sourcing to screening to interacting with candidates—dramatically reducing the amount of time spent on manual tasks. It’s a reality Ellen Page, director of talent acquisition for Franciscan Health—a nearly 20,000-person Midwest healthcare network—knows well.

Particularly in the healthcare sector, where competition for talent is at record levels, recruiting functions need to shift from pushing paper to creating connection with candidates and employees.

“We’re all about experiences now, not processes,” Page says. “We’re focused on the moments that matter.”

Recruiters’ new opportunity

Tech integration is enabling that shift, taking the administrative burden off of Franciscan’s team of 32 recruiters. The “post and pray” method of the past, rife with tedious, manual steps, has transformed into a more seamless, AI-enabled process, Page says.

Now, recruiters can be less task-oriented, and more strategy-focused.

“We’re trying to get all of our recruiters to be more like consultants,” Page says. “The technology is giving time back to recruiters.”

That time can now be spent, consulting more with hiring managers, Page says. What do they need in a position? Why did the last employee leave? What does success really look like?

“Our hiring managers need consultants; they need help,” she says. “They may think they know what they want, but they knew that last time and now that employee isn’t here. Doing the same thing over and over is the definition of insanity.”

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