Esteban Orellana Salas
Country Manager of Rankmi Peru.
The artificial intelligence (AI) today helps optimize talent selection processes. What used to take weeks, or even months, is now managed in less than 2 days. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), the underemployment rate among young Peruvians under 24 years of age reaches 58.1%, becoming a worrying challenge to work. Under this premise, how can young people overcome the automated filters that dominate the initial stage of many hirings?
The first thing is to leave the era of resumes that we send to “50 companies” in the past. Five-page resumes are not effective; Today they are analyzed based on patterns and keywords that match the requirements of the position: terms such as “leadership”, “teamwork” or “project management” have significant weight. Therefore, it is vital to personalize the resume for each application and that it is aligned under keywords based on the profile sought. Including and highlighting the right words can make the difference in the possibility of passing a first filter.
Although technical competencies are assessed with greater precision, the identification of soft skills remains a challenge. These competencies, such as effective communication or leadership, are usually assessed more thoroughly during interviews and psychometric tests. Some companies have already begun using advanced technology to analyze interview videos, measuring aspects such as verbal fluency and speech coherence. Therefore, it is not enough to mention soft skills on the resume; It is necessary to demonstrate how they have been applied in real situations. It is more strategic to detail how a team was led to achieve a specific goal than to simply state that these skills are possessed.
Another aspect to consider is how new tools can help minimize bias. No biases related to age, gender or ethnicity can be made, because AI focuses exclusively on skills and competencies. However, it is crucial that companies maintain an active awareness of how these tools are programmed and used. An ethical design of processes and transparency are essential to ensure fairness in selection.
The implementation of advanced technologies has freed up valuable time for recruiting executives, making it easier for them to focus on more strategic decisions. However, it has also created an environment in which candidates must be more tactical and better prepared.
Faced with this new scenario, it is not only enough to adapt to new technologies, but also to take advantage of them to our advantage. In an increasingly competitive context, young professionals must learn how these tools work and optimize their opportunities in a market that, although more automated, continues to value human potential.
