AI Recruiters: How Gen Z is Changing Hiring

The Surge in Job Applications and the Rise of AI in Recruitment

Recent data indicates a significant increase in the volume of job applications received by employers. In the United Kingdom, organizations utilizing graduate training programs experienced an average of 140 applications per position in 2024. This represents a 59% rise compared to the figures recorded in 2023, as reported by the Institute of Student Employers.

This influx of applications is likely contributing to the growing adoption of AI platforms by companies, particularly as the Gen Z demographic now exceeds the millennial population in size. Recruiters are increasingly seeking assistance to manage the workload.

Maki Secures $28.6 Million in Series A Funding

Maki, a company specializing in AI-powered conversational agents for job interviews and candidate screening, has successfully raised $28.6 million in a Series A funding round. The investment was spearheaded by Blossom Capital, a U.K.-based venture capital firm.

DST Global and existing investors – Frst, GFC, and Picus Capital – also participated in the funding. Previously, Maki had secured €11 million in earlier funding stages. The newly acquired capital will be allocated to accelerating product development, expanding operations within the United States, and bolstering the company’s team.

Platform Overview and Growth

Established in 2022 by Maxime Legardez, Paul-Louis Caylar, and Benjamin Chino, Maki’s platform conducts candidate interviews via voice, video, or text-based communication. The company reports over 300% growth in 2024.

Maki has secured hiring contracts with over 50 companies across numerous markets, including prominent organizations such as H&M, BNP Paribas, PwC, Deloitte, FIFA, Abercrombie, and Capgemini. The platform is designed to streamline the hiring process, enhance the candidate experience, and potentially reduce employee turnover rates.

Efficiency and Automation Through AI

Maki’s AI agents engage with potential candidates using natural language processing. The company asserts that this technology can automate up to 80% of the recruitment process, resulting in a threefold reduction in time-to-hire.

According to CEO Maxime Legardez, in an interview with TechCrunch, the core function of Maki is to “build agents that our clients can customize to their needs, and basically the agents to replicate task made by humans in recruiting.” These agents are capable of handling tasks such as candidate sourcing, screening, scheduling, and interviewing.

H&M's "Maria" and Skill Assessment

Legardez highlighted the example of "Maria," an AI agent developed for clothing retailer H&M. Maria can interact with candidates via phone calls or a visual avatar through Synthesia, offering a dynamic experience.

“She can talk 24/7 to candidates in multiple languages and have five, 10, or 15-minute conversations with candidates to assess hundreds of skills,” Legardez explained. The AI is capable of evaluating candidates on attributes like customer empathy, collaboration skills, and resilience.

Personalized Feedback and Candidate Experience

Despite the automated nature of the process, Maki emphasizes a personalized approach. Candidates who are not selected receive tailored feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Legardez stated that 98% of candidates applying to BNP Paribas have reported a positive recruitment experience, and that this enhances their desire to join the company. This demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a positive brand image even during rejection.

Addressing Bias and Promoting Diversity

Legardez contends that Maki’s AI exhibits less bias compared to human recruiters. An audit conducted by the state of New York confirmed that the AI demonstrates reduced bias concerning ethnicity, gender, and age.

The company believes that continued data collection and refinement will further improve the AI’s ability to deliver unbiased assessments, potentially leading to more diverse workforces.

Competitive Landscape

Maki operates within a competitive market that includes companies like SHL, EON, Pymetrics, Saville, Recruit CRM, BrainTrust, Recruitee, and Manatal.

However, Legardez positions Maki as distinct from traditional HR software providers, emphasizing its focus on automating human tasks through AI agents.

Founding Team and Investor Perspective

Prior to founding Maki, Legardez was instrumental in developing Everoad, a digital freight-forwarder that was subsequently acquired by Sennder.

Ophelia Brown, managing partner at Blossom Capital, expressed confidence in Maki’s potential, stating, “We believe Maki’s agents have the potential to enable large organizations to reach the next level of efficiency and decision-making, redefining how HR drives business success.”

Industry Trends and Further Developments

Maki’s funding round aligns with a broader trend of AI adoption within the recruitment sector. LinkedIn recently launched Jobs Match, an AI-powered tool that provides immediate feedback on job application relevance.

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