AI in Recruitment: Useful Tool or Organisational Risk?

AI can build a CV, optimise an application and even shortlist candidates, but it cannot truly understand people or the culture they need to succeed in!

AI is disrupting the recruitment industry from CV creation to candidate screening and its impact is only growing. Many of the larger recruitment agencies such as Robert Walters (RW, posted a £19.6 million loss in 2025 against profits of £500,000 in 2024 as net fees slumped 15% to £274.2 million) Robert Half, Manpower and many others are all showing a worrying decline in profits. 

We’re seeing an increasing number of candidates using AI tools to generate and enhance their CVs, while some employers are exploring AI led sifting solutions to manage high volumes of applications. On the surface, this promises efficiency and speed.

But it raises an important question: can AI truly assess the right candidate? Of course as a people focused agency we would say NO!

AI is an important tool and can identify keywords, structure information and streamline processes but it cannot:

• Understand nuance, personality or cultural fit

• Interpret career decisions or potential

• Build relationships or assess long-term alignment

In a market where candidates can optimise their CVs using AI, relying solely on automated screening risks missing the very qualities that matter most.

It is also critical to understand the culture of an organisation when building effective teams (https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/evidence-reviews/high-performing-teams) something that cannot be captured through algorithms alone.

At Val Wade Recruitment, we see AI as a tool, not a decision-maker, our approach combines the efficiency of technology with the insight of experienced consultants who understand people, not just profiles. We take the time to evaluate each candidate beyond their CV, ensuring the right match for both skillset and culture.

In an increasingly automated world, human judgement still remains the most valuable asset in recruitment.

If you’re reviewing your hiring process or navigating the impact of AI, we’d be happy to share our perspective.

Get in touch to discuss how we can support your hiring strategy.