How Unilever Is Using Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Their Recruitment

Summary

Unilever, one of the largest consumer goods companies, leverages AI and machine learning to revolutionize its recruitment process, particularly for its Future Leaders Program. With 1.8 million applications annually, they partnered with PI Metrics and HireVue to implement online games that assess candidates' skills and risk appetite. Candidates then undergo AI-driven interviews, where algorithms analyze responses and body language, narrowing the pool from 250,000 applicants to 3,500. This innovative approach reduces bias, enhances candidate feedback, and saves 70,000 hours in processing time, illustrating how AI can improve recruitment efficiency while enriching the candidate experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Unilever is one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, recruiting about 30,000 employees annually from 1.8 million job applications.
• 🤖 To improve efficiency in recruitment, Unilever has implemented AI and machine learning technologies.
• 🎮 Candidates for the Future Leaders Program participate in online games that assess skills like logical thinking and risk appetite.
• 📹 Instead of human interviews, candidates undergo AI-driven video interviews that analyze both verbal and non-verbal communication.
• 📊 Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine vision are used to evaluate candidates during the interview process.
• 🚀 The AI process narrows 250,000 applications down to 3,500 candidates, who are then invited to assessment centers.
• 👥 In-person assessments allow real recruiters to finalize the selection of 800 candidates for the leadership program.
• 🔍 The AI-driven approach helps reduce bias in recruitment by providing objective assessments based on game and interview performance.
• 💬 Candidates receive personalized feedback on their interviews, helping them understand strengths and areas for improvement.
• ⏱️ Unilever's use of AI has saved approximately 70,000 hours in interviewing and application processing time, significantly cutting costs.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Unilever's use of artificial intelligence in their recruitment process?

Unilever aims to streamline their recruitment process, making it more efficient and cost-effective while also enhancing the applicant experience.

How many applications does Unilever receive annually for job positions?

Unilever receives around 1.8 million applications each year.

What specific program did Unilever test their AI recruitment process on?

Unilever tested their AI recruitment process on their Future Leaders Program, where they recruit about 800 people from approximately 250,000 applications.

Which companies did Unilever partner with to enhance their recruitment process?

Unilever partnered with Pi Metrics and HireVue to improve their recruitment process.

What role do online games play in Unilever's recruitment strategy?

The online games assess candidates' aptitudes, logical thinking, reasoning, and risk appetite before moving them to the next stage of the recruitment process.

How does the AI-driven interview process work at Unilever?

Candidates participate in an online interview where they answer questions recorded via their devices, and machine learning algorithms analyze their responses using natural language processing and machine vision.

How does Unilever ensure fairness in their AI recruitment process?

Unilever believes the AI processes, including the games and video interviews, are unbiased, thereby reducing potential biases that can occur with human recruiters.

What was the outcome of using AI in the recruitment process for Unilever?

The AI-driven process narrowed the applicant pool from 250,000 to just 3,500, who then progressed to assessment centers for final selection.

What feedback do applicants receive from Unilever's recruitment process?

All applicants receive feedback on their performance, including strengths and areas for improvement, even if they are not selected.

What are the broader implications of Unilever's AI recruitment strategy?

Unilever has saved about 70,000 hours in interview and application processing time, demonstrating significant cost savings and improved business results.