7 Conversational Recruitment Methods to Try in 2025

Good news: conversational recruitment technology leverages messaging, artificial intelligence (AI,) and automation to make the hiring process faster and more candidate-centric. The result? Recruiters will be able to engage potential hires on a deeper level and remain competitive.

In this article, we look at seven ways you and your team can use conversational AI for talent acquisition purposes. So, sit back, relax, and learn how to connect with top talent in 2025!

1. AI-powered chatbots for pre-screening

According to a recent survey, 77% of employers struggle to fill open roles. Why? It’s not because recruits have suddenly lost their fast ball. It’s because sourcing qualified candidates is difficult.

It takes a lot of time to screen resumes, schedule interviews, etc. Unless, of course, you jump on the AI recruiting bandwagon and use conversational AI to handle these tasks for you.

For example, AI chatbots can be used during the initial screening process to analyze resumes, match keywords, and prioritize potential candidates. This saves recruiters time. After all, they don’t have to sift through every resume. They can focus on the ones who meet their set criteria.

Also worth mentioning, AI chatbots can be used online, the phone, or inside direct messaging apps. In other words, they can make pre-screening assessments that fit your preferred workflow.

2. SMS-based recruitment

The average American spends 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phone every day. Moreover, 47% of job seekers say texting is their preferred form of communication.

Once you build out a conversational recruiting process, you’ll be able to connect with potential hires via text by sending them real-time updates and streamlining interview scheduling tasks. And you’ll be able to do it on autopilot, thanks to natural language processing technology*.

Put simply, you can have software engage candidates in the initial stages of the hiring process. This will help you and your team dedicate more time to top talent, accelerating your time-to-hire.

*If you’re not familiar with the term, natural language processing (NLP) is a technology that allows machines to understand and communicate with human language. It’s foundational to the generative AI revolution and key to an artificial intelligence-based recruitment strategy.

3. Interactive job listings on messaging apps

Most recruiting teams post jobs on career sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter. There’s nothing wrong with this strategy. But what if there was a better way?

For example, what if your company (or the employer brand you work for) could post job openings on apps like WhatsApp and Slack? And what if candidates could directly interact with those posts? AI tools make this possible. Here’s how this might work:

• You post a job opening on an app like WhatsApp or Slack.
• You connect one of the many credible AI solutions to the app.
• Candidates read about the job opening and ask the recruitment chatbot questions.
• The recruitment chatbot answers all questions and collects resumes from job seekers.
• You and/or the hiring managers you work with spend time evaluating the talent pool and screening candidates. (Or you use another AI tool to do this for you.)
• You and/or the hiring managers you work with make a decision and extend an offer of employment to a top candidate. Once accepted, the onboarding process starts.

Why does this approach work? It improves the candidate experience. Job seekers don’t have to blindly apply for jobs. They can communicate with a chatbot to learn about them first.

It also helps companies and/or recruiters make better hiring decisions because the candidates who apply have a better understanding of the role. As such, fewer bad-fit candidates apply.

4. Voice-assisted recruitment

According to a recent Deepgram survey, 82% of companies use voice technology.

To make sure we’re on the same page, the term “voice technology” refers to a tool that enables computers to understand and respond to human voice commands. These tools use NLP, machine learning, and other complex technological advancements to achieve this goal.

As a recruiter, you’re in a perfect position to use voice technology. For instance, you could use it to initiate the application process while you drive to work. Or receive application updates while you eat lunch. In both scenarios, you’ll get a head start on the tasks you need to complete.

Many recruitment workflows are time-consuming. Voice technology will help you win back a significant number of lost hours, which you can then spend on other initiatives.

5. Conversational video interviews

69% of HR managers planned to use asynchronous video technology during the interview process in 2024. It makes sense. Async video can really speed up the hiring process.

Sadly, async videos don’t always offer the best candidate experience.

Conversational AI can fix this by guiding potential hires through pre-recorded video interviews. This will make them feel more engaging and boost excitement for your open role. It will also help you get a better idea of who the potential hire is, as a person. Async interviews often feel strange. Conversational AI can help candidates relax, so you can assess their personalities.

Plus, the information you glean during these video interviews can be passed to your CRM or ATS of choice. As such, this conversational recruiting tip allows for data-driven decision-making.

6. Social media direct messaging (DM) for recruitment

Remember what we said earlier? You can use AI chatbots to engage with job seekers via apps like WhatsApp and Slack. You can use a similar strategy to connect with them on social media.

For example, you can send a potential hire a direct message (DM) on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter to notify them about your open role and gauge their level of interest. Then, when you get a response, you and/or your team can take over the conversation. Or not...

AI chatbots are pretty sophisticated these days. So, your AI provider might be able to schedule interviews, answer basic FAQs, or even handle full-fledged conversations. Imagine the time you’d save with this kind of recruiting solution. (Hint: it’s A LOT of time!)

7. Candidate nurturing via conversational recruitment

Remember, the best candidates have options.

How do we know this? Because every company wants top talent—and many of them are willing to pay for it. So, expect stiff competition when hiring for your open role.

To ensure your organization (or the employer brand you work for) wins the recruitment war, do your best to engage candidates throughout the hiring process. This will keep your company top of mind and convey the notion that you really value this person’s expertise.

Conversational AI can do the heavy lifting for you in this regard. Use the AI solutions in your company’s tech stack to periodically check in with potential hires. You can do this by asking specific questions based on their behavior. Here are a few examples:

• Hey, are you still interested in our open role?
• Can’t wait for our interview on [Insert Date]. Talk soon!
• It was great to speak with you today! Here are next steps...
• Did you receive the employment contract we sent? Let me know!

What you say to prospective employees is up to you, of course. But engaging them throughout the recruitment process will lead to better hiring outcomes—guaranteed.

Over to you

By adopting the methods above, you’ll be able to connect with better candidates, improve their experience with your company, and ultimately, hire faster and more effectively. Win!

So, we encourage you to embrace conversational AI. That way you can focus on higher-priority tasks, while giving yourself an edge over your competitors. Speaking of which...

Have you tried Carv yet? Our platform was specifically designed to help you streamline the recruitment process by eliminating admin work. Put simply, our platform will make you two times more productive, so you can concentrate on the activities that really matter.

Request a demo of Carv today to see our industry-leading platform in action!