I have been reading a lot about job trends and what our work lives will be like in the future. It is fascinating to see the broad spectrum of opinion about this.
Some people think that robots will eliminate all work, creating anxiety. Others think that robots and technology will enhance what we humans can do on our own and therefore make-work better.
When I think back on my career in recruiting, I have seen many of the benefits of technology. I no longer have to stand by the fax machine watching the pages pass through to make sure they don’t jam or flip through pages and pages of resumes in file folders.
Now I can sit at a computer anywhere and have access to anything. I can send information to a client or a candidate with the mere click of a button.
In the end, the process of what I do remains the same regardless of the state of technology. I listen to what my client needs and then talk with lots of people until I find the right person with the right skills to fit the bill and find happiness.
Technology is great enabler. LinkedIn, Twitter and databases provide easy access to all kinds of information but I still need critical thinking, writing and listening skills to do my job well. Those cannot be replaced by any kind of Artificial Intelligence.
When Apple and Microsoft first came out with programs like Word and Draw, we were suddenly able to make our work look totally professional. My words looked like a manuscript. It was so cool. It was a real comedown to realize that just because it looked like it had been published, did not make it publish-able. It was still just words on a page by a budding recruiter.
The lesson here, is for all of us to continue to use our critical thinking skills to question where we use technology and creative thinking skills to figure out to implement the best new tools in the best way possible.
New technology doesn’t need to create anxiety, but let it rather create excitement.
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