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We live in a time where technology moves faster than we do. Every day, there is a new tool or a new bot that promises to do our work for us. In the world of hiring, this noise is even louder. Companies rush to automate everything. They want faster results and lower costs.
But amidst this rush, we have to ask a serious question.
What happens to the human side of hiring?
Can a computer truly understand a person?
We sat down with Santhosh Kumar R to talk about this. He is a veteran in the industry and a leader who values people over processes. He shared his thoughts on where the industry is going. His answers remind us that while tools change, the core of recruitment remains the same. It is about trust. It is about connection.
The One Skill Machines Can't Master
Everyone worries that Artificial Intelligence will take their jobs. In recruitment, we see bots that scan resumes and chat with candidates. They are fast. They are efficient. But Santhosh points out a major flaw in these systems.
He believes the one skill AI will never replace is empathy with judgment.
Think about what this means. A computer looks at data points. It sees a gap in a resume and marks it as a negative. It does not know the story behind that gap. Maybe that person took time off to care for a sick parent. Maybe they traveled to learn a new language.
Empathy is the ability to understand these emotions and the context behind them. It is not just about being nice. It is about making a balanced decision. A human recruiter can look at a candidate and see potential where a machine only sees a missing keyword. This judgment calls for a human heart and a human mind working together.
The Unpopular Opinion: Ethics Over Convenience
We asked Santhosh for an opinion that might make some people uncomfortable. In the hiring world, there is a lot of pressure to fill roles quickly. Sometimes, companies take shortcuts.
One common shortcut is hiring talent directly from their own vendors or partners. It seems like a smart move. You already know the person is good at their job. You save time on training. It looks like a win for the company.
Santhosh disagrees. He believes this practice hurts everyone in the end.
When a company hires from its own partners, it destroys trust. Business is built on relationships. If you poach employees from the people who help you, you burn that bridge. Long-term success comes from transparency and mutual respect. It does not come from grabbing talent just because it is convenient.
Sustainable recruitment means playing the long game. It means treating your partners with the same respect you treat your clients. This focuses on ethical hiring practices that build a strong reputation in the market.
The Hero We Need in Leadership
Leadership is hard to define. We often look at business tycoons for inspiration. But sometimes, fiction gives us the best examples of what a leader should be.
We asked Santhosh which fictional character he would hire if he could. His answer was Captain America.
This choice tells us a lot about what matters in a team. He did not choose a character who is the smartest or the richest. He chose the one with the most integrity.
Captain America is known for moral courage. He does the right thing even when it is difficult. He does not lead because he has the power to force people to follow him. He leads because he values his team. He puts people and purpose before his own gain.
In the corporate world, we need more of this. We need leaders who stand up for inclusivity. We need managers who are consistent. When a leader acts with integrity, the whole team performs better. They know their leader has their back.
The Human Connection in Recruiting
If AI handles the scheduling and the screening, what is left for the recruiter? Some say the role of the recruiter is dying. Santhosh argues the opposite.
He states that emotional connection and rapport building are skills that a machine can never replace.
Recruitment is sales. It is also counseling. You have to earn the trust of the candidate. A candidate might be scared to leave their current job. They might have doubts about the new role. A chatbot cannot reassure them. A chatbot cannot understand the fear of change.
A great recruiter connects with people. They listen to what is not being said. They build a relationship that lasts longer than the interview process. This ability to genuinely connect is deeply human. AI can support the process. It can handle the paperwork. But it can never be the person who shakes your hand and says, "Welcome to the team."
Advice for Every Candidate
Finally, we wanted to know what Santhosh would say to every job seeker out there. If he had a billboard that everyone could see, what would he write on it?
His message is simple and powerful. "You are more than your resume. Your attitude, effort, and intent matter."
We often spend hours perfecting our CV. We worry about fonts and keywords. But a piece of paper cannot capture who you are. It cannot show your drive. It cannot show your willingness to learn.
Employers look for intent. They want to see that you care. They want to see that you put in the effort. Your skills get you the interview, but your attitude gets you the job.
The conversation with Santhosh Kumar R makes one thing clear.
Technology is a tool, not a replacement.
In the rush to modernize, we must not lose sight of the basics. We need empathy. We need ethics. We need leaders who lead with values. And mostly, we need to remember that on the other side of every resume is a real person.
At RippleHire, we believe in this balance. We believe in using technology to make the process smoother, so humans have more time to be human. Recruitment is not just about filling seats. It is about changing lives and building futures. That is a job that requires a human touch.
