Where are the humans? The opportunity to have a conversation.
Marketing and connecting with real prospective clients in today’s world is vastly different than when I started my company 21 years ago. Once upon a time, real emails would come in; responding to a project request was usually followed by a human response, a phone call, a quick consult; applying to a contract job would be met with the ability to have an interview / a conversation.
Now we have AI checking everything and handling all of the pre-screening. Responding to project posts on a few freelancer sites only get an AI reply. It’s tiresome.
I miss the old fashioned interaction.
I get it – we need to be “efficient”
However, consider this… AI only really sees in black and white. AI can’t have a conversation with a person and hear their drive, determination, resilience and potential to be great. AI cannot sit on a phone call and hear the compassion, desire and connect the dots that if you can solve a similar problem you would be a good fit. AI cannot find and see soft skills. AI cannot have a conversation with a prospective client to discuss their budget and figure out if there’s a place where we can meet in the middle. AI cannot see beneath the pretty portfolio to see how I’ve solved complex problems within a project.
I would have never gotten that entry level job at the Architect firm had I not talked to a real live human and she not seen my potential and enthusiasm. AI would have thrown my resume out because I had no experience. If I had used today’s technology, I would not have the clients I do have today or had the opportunity to work with some really great design interns.
Life, marketing and getting the word out was simpler.
What IF in the name of efficiency we are actually limiting the potential for people to be great? What IF in the name of efficiency, employers are missing out on that golden opportunity of a stellar employee who is willing to be the errand person just to get their foot in the door?
Are you considering using AI as a screener and responder?
Human potential and drive aren’t AI boxes that can be checked.
I challenge you to integrate humans into the process. If you are concerned about too many applicants, limit the number you accept so a real human can read through them to see the potential. Use AI strictly to get rid of spam / bot replies. Everything else ought to be potentially reviewed. If you want a broader spectrum, add check boxes with specifics that make sense like location or yes/no questions that are concrete.
We are human beings. AI is a useful tool for many things. As humans we need to ensure the human element is not lost in the application process.
*this article was not written with AI*
