This was the concern of many analysts towards the end of 2022 as conversations, think pieces, opinion polls, debates and editorials explore the immediate and long-term impact of AI for organisations and the economy at large. For a few forward-thinking organisations, the attention was not so much on jobs that may be lost but qualified prospective employees that would be easier to find, trainings that would be more effective to deliver, and ultimately the mundane tasks in recruitment that could be automated while human resource professionals focused on the more critical task of talent management.
The newly adopted Nigeria Startup Act and approved National Policy on Blockchain Technology have confirmed Nigeria`s readiness to support the development of emerging technologies. In August 2022, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) announced an ongoing formulation of a National Artificial Intelligence Policy to harness the potential of artificial intelligence that is increasingly penetrating and actively transforming the technology landscape in Nigeria.
To simplify this technical concept, AI is a branch of emerging technologies where a machine is programmed to perform specific repetitive human tasks. AI is created to automate processes that would normally require input from a human being. Many times, AI encompasses various frameworks and data analytics tools, many of which are now being frequently used in non-tech industries and on existing digital platforms owned by organisations. For these organisations, their focus is on efficient, smart and quick results without compromising quality.
Perhaps one of the most repetitive tasks in the human resource industry is the process of candidate selection during recruitment. In decades past, candidates would submit unsolicited handwritten applications letters, begging to apply for unannounced vacancies. With the global acceptance of digital technology, which has simplified the process of job applications by job seekers, an applicant can simply review job vacancies pushed online, submit their applications then wait to be invited for an interview.
But with the progress made with technology and the adoption of AI by futuristic organisations that constantly seek to simplify processes that deliver better results, organisations like Jobberman Nigeria are redefining the opportunities within the recruitment space in Nigeria. According to the “How Do Young People Survive Without Jobs” 2022 Report by Jobberman Nigeria, one in every five unemployed youths in Nigeria has been unemployed for over five years. Yet, its Digital Skills Gap Report posits that 41% of Nigerian employers hire every year and 24% — every quarter. With all numbers considered, it is safe to assume that more job seekers would be employed faster, and employers would spend less time during candidate selection if there is a system in place to facilitate a seamless matching of job seekers with employers who are interested in their skill set and experience.
The speed of recruitment and alignment between job seekers` value and employers` hiring needs directly impact the unemployment duration and the ultimate health of Nigeria’s labour market. In many cases, a job seeker remains unemployed for a long period only because their application has not reached the right employer. To find one fitting candidate, an employer typically needs to review and sort through dozens or hundreds CVs. The Digital Skills Gap Report by Jobberman Nigeria showed that employers in Nigeria prefer assessing updated CVs over job portfolios and professional certifications, which means the comprehensiveness of a CV largely affects the decision to hire a candidate. Similarly, to reach out to an employer who offers decent working conditions and requires their exact competencies, a job seeker has to scroll through multiple vacancies spending time to assess each before applying.
To minimise time and money outlays of prolonged job search, Jobberman Nigeria has simplified the application process by upgrading its job site with two unique AI-powered features — Relevance Ranking and Recommended Candidate. Both features are pillared upon an in-built scoring system that automatically assesses the CVs of job seekers on the Jobberman platform in order to connect qualified candidates with relevant employers. Here is how Jobberman`s reinvented matching model helps make job applications fast, easy and effective:
- Matching based on CV completion. The percentage of completion is proportional to the probability of being quickly and aptly matched with an employer. To achieve 100% CV completion and increase their chances of being successfully matched, a job seeker should fill out four CV sections — About You, Work Experience, Experience Level, and Education. With this upgrade, applicants with the most informative CVs will get a competitive edge which will minimise the duration of their job search. This is because the algorithm juxtaposes the information provided in these sections with the job requirements provided by the employer to make the perfect match. This also tremendously simplifies the selection process for the employer who simply sees the shortlist of the most ideal candidates for the role at a glance on their dashboard.
- Qualified Candidates Recommendation. When an employer publishes a job vacancy on Jobberman, the matching algorithm scans the job seeker database and generates a list of the top ten (10) eligible and qualified candidates based on the job requirements. This list is presented to the employers via their dashboard so they can invite these candidates to apply for the job opening. This way, qualified candidates will not miss out on any opportunity, even in the event that they are not online for a period. Therefore, the more comprehensive CV a job seeker has, the higher the probability that they would be invited to apply for a job instead of traditionally begging to do the same.
For job seekers to benefit from Jobberman`s platform update and get invited to apply for jobs, they must simply fill out those four crucial sections in their CV and then sign up here: https://www.jobberman.com/account/customer/sign-up
For employers who want to reduce repetitive tasks and focus on more productive endeavours that promote talent retention, they can sign up here: https://www.jobberman.com/account/employer/sign-up
