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The Risks of Hyper-Wrong Personalization in Staffing: When ChatGPT Meets Incorrect Information

Andrew Buhrmann
June 15, 2023
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In the digital age, personalization has become the holy grail for businesses across industries, and the staffing industry is no exception. The advent of AI technologies like OpenAI's ChatGPT has opened up a world of possibilities for personalizing communication at scale. However, like any powerful tool, automated personalization carries inherent risks, especially when it operates on outdated or incorrect information. This post will explore the potential pitfalls of "hyper-wrong" personalization, specifically in the context of job advertising campaigns.

The Power and Peril of Personalization with ChatGPT

In theory, AI technologies like ChatGPT hold immense potential for the staffing industry. ChatGPT can generate text that is personalized and contextually appropriate, enhancing the candidate experience. For example, a staffing agency using ChatGPT to generate personalized job descriptions for a campaign targeting software developers could tailor descriptions to each candidate's experience, skills, and interests.

With accurate data, ChatGPT could craft job descriptions highlighting the most appealing features, such as opportunities for remote work, specific programming languages used, or an emphasis on team collaboration. This level of personalization could yield highly engaging job descriptions that significantly increase the likelihood of the candidate applying for the position.

However, the precision of AI technologies like ChatGPT can also be a double-edged sword. Suppose the staffing agency's database contains incorrect or outdated information. In that case, the AI might inadvertently create job descriptions that are not only irrelevant but potentially alienate candidates. For instance, if a candidate is incorrectly identified as a Python specialist when they specialize in Java, an automated job description emphasizing Python-based projects could result in a frustrated candidate, damaging their perception of the staffing agency, and possibly leading them to disregard future communications.

Similarly, outdated information, such as a previous location or job role, could lead to job recommendations that no longer align with the candidate's current situation, leading to frustration and a sense that the agency does not understand their needs.

Real-World Scenario of Hyper-Wrong Personalization

To illustrate the potential pitfalls of hyper-wrong personalization, let's examine two contrasting scenarios featuring the same candidate:

Scenario 1: Outdated Profile Information

Here, we have Jane Doe, a software developer, with outdated profile information that has not been updated in years. Based on this outdated profile, ChatGPT generates the following job advertisement:

Subject: Exciting Python Developer role at a dynamic NY-based startup!

"Hello Jane,

We believe we've found the perfect opportunity for a passionate Python developer like you! A vibrant startup in New York is looking for a backend developer with expertise in Python, Flask, and Django. As part of their team, you'll have the opportunity to work on AI and machine learning projects and contribute to the core product development. This role is exclusively for Python enthusiasts who want to advance their career in the tech hub of New York!"

The advertisement, while engaging, is entirely irrelevant to Jane's current situation, leaving her frustrated and less likely to engage with future communications from the agency.

Scenario 2: Updated Profile Information

The same candidate, Jane Doe, now has her profile updated with current information. Based on this updated profile, ChatGPT generates a new job advertisement:

Subject: Senior Full Stack Developer position at a leading tech company in Seattle!

"Hello Jane,

Great news! We've identified an opportunity that aligns perfectly with your skills and interests. A prominent tech company in Seattle is seeking a Senior Full Stack Developer with substantial experience in Java, Angular, and AWS. As a key member of their team, you will have the chance to work on a range of projects, focusing on full-stack development and cloud computing. This opportunity is ideal for seasoned developers interested in contributing to impactful projects within a large tech company. Looking forward to hearing from you!"

This time, thanks to the updated profile, the personalized message is relevant, engaging, and far more likely to elicit a positive response from Jane. The quality of the candidate experience is dramatically improved, and the likelihood of application is significantly increased.

Hyper-Right Personalization with Candidate IQ

Given the risks of hyper-wrong personalization, tools like Candidate IQ become crucial. Designed to tackle common data challenges, Candidate IQ for Bullhorn improves data quality, enhances profiles, and manages talent pools effectively.

Candidate IQ addresses the risks of hyper-wrong personalization in several ways. Firstly, it focuses on data enrichment by using world-class external data sources to enhance candidate profiles and provide a more comprehensive view of each candidate's relevant experiences.

Secondly, Candidate IQ ensures consistency and accuracy across your database by fixing, standardizing, and cleansing candidate data. This guarantees that your automated personalization tools, like ChatGPT, are working with accurate and up-to-date information, significantly reducing the risk of hyper-wrong personalization.

Moreover, Candidate IQ offers intelligent insights by understanding the relevant experiences and relationships within candidate data. This facilitates more precise and effective data strategies and further optimizes the personalization process.

While AI technologies like ChatGPT offer significant opportunities for personalization in the staffing industry, it's crucial to be aware of the risks of hyper-wrong personalization. By using tools like Candidate IQ to ensure data accuracy and relevance, staffing agencies can maximize the benefits of automated personalization while minimizing the risks, resulting in more effective job advertising campaigns and a better candidate experience. Thus, it's not only about hyper-personalization; it's about hyper-right personalization.