Why Human-Centered Recruiting Still Matters in an AI-Enabled World

by Jaimee Cascione-Santiago

TL;DR

• Recruiting success still depends on trust, empathy, and human judgment, even as AI becomes more common in hiring.
• Technology can improve efficiency, but meaningful relationships drive long-term outcomes for candidates and clients.
• Human-centered recruiting focuses on listening, advocacy, and long-term support, not transactional placements.

Introduction

I’ve been a recruiter for over 20 years, and while the tools we use have changed dramatically, the reason I’ve stayed successful has not. Recruiting is, and always will be, about people. Technology can help us move faster and smarter, but relationships are what make this work meaningful and effective. That belief is exactly why Tandym’s motto, Human-centered, AI-enabled, resonates so deeply with me.

Early in my career, I learned an important lesson that still guides me today: you have to build trust from the very first conversation. That does not mean controlling someone in a negative way. It means setting the tone with respect, honesty, and genuine interest. If a candidate gets off the phone with me feeling unheard, rushed, or disrespected, then I’ve already failed, regardless of whether I place them or not.

I’ve always been a relationship person. That’s not something I learned from a playbook. It’s who I am. When I speak with candidates, I’m just as interested in who they are as I am in what they do. Their skills matter, of course, but character matters just as much. How they communicate, how they handle challenges, what motivates them, and what kind of environment helps them succeed. Those are the things that don’t show up on a resume, but they are often what determine whether a placement truly works.

The Rise of AI in Recruiting (And the Misconceptions Around It)

As the industry evolves, AI-enabled tools like Tandym Catalyst^™ and AI career mentor tools play an important role. They create efficiency, provide insights, and help candidates who are just starting out navigate their search. But technology does not replace human connection.

Relationships don’t come from AI. They come from listening, empathy, and presence. At Tandym, we embrace technology without sacrificing the human touch, and that balance is critical.

Why Trust Is the Foundation of Successful Recruiting

One of the reasons people come back to me years later is simple: respect. I have candidates I placed five, ten, even fifteen years ago who reach out when they’re ready for a change. They refer friends. They refer family members. Some even check in during the holidays to ask about my family. That doesn’t happen because I found them a job. It happens because they felt supported and valued throughout the process.

I get satisfaction from making a placement, but what really motivates me is the quality of the relationship. I want candidates to feel good working with me, even when the message isn’t what they hoped to hear. One thing I often ask is whether they’d be willing to write me a recommendation on LinkedIn if they felt well served. When you read those recommendations, there’s a common theme:

• I listen
• I care
• The experience feels different

It’s never about what someone can do for me. It’s about how I can help them.

What Human-Centered Recruiting Looks Like in Practice

My conversations with candidates tend to be longer than most. I don’t start with, “What are you looking for? How much do you want to make?” I start with a conversation. Sometimes we talk about their career. Sometimes we talk about what’s not working. Sometimes we talk about life. And yes, sometimes I forget to go line by line through a resume because we’re having such a real discussion. But I’ve learned that you can get far more insight into a person that way than by formally reviewing bullet points.

Support doesn’t stop once someone starts a job. I check in after one week, one month, and beyond. I want candidates to know I’m still here. Even if something isn’t working out, I tell them to communicate with me. I respect their decisions, whether they stay or move on. That level of openness builds trust, and trust is what keeps relationships strong long after a placement ends.

Helping Candidates See Possibility Beyond the Perfect Role

Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from helping people see possibilities they hadn’t considered. I’ve worked with candidates who wanted to pivot into entirely new functions, people returning to work after long gaps, and professionals who felt stuck because their experience didn’t fit a perfect mold.

Sometimes the solution isn’t the ideal title or pay at first. Sometimes it’s about being strategic, getting current experience on a resume, and using that momentum to build toward the next step.

I often tell candidates, “I hear what you want, and I’ll look for that. But would you allow me to think outside the box?” That openness has helped many people rebuild confidence, gain traction, and ultimately land roles they never thought were possible. It’s not about settling. It’s about moving forward with intention.

Resilience and Adaptability in an Unpredictable Market

Recruiting also comes with challenges. Market downturns, like what we saw during COVID, test your resilience. When roles disappeared overnight, I had to pivot quickly. I placed in new industries, worked unconventional hours, and learned as I went.

That adaptability is essential in this field. There will always be ups and downs, but experience teaches you that downturns don’t last forever. You hustle, you learn, and you keep going.

From a client perspective, trust is built the same way. Clients value honesty, consistency, and partnership. At Tandym, we hire genuinely good people who respect one another, and that culture translates directly into how we work with clients and candidates. We are not transactional. We are partners. That is what sets Tandym apart.

Conclusion

My advice to anyone navigating today’s job market is this: give yourself grace, be patient, and be open. If you’re willing to work with the right recruiter, someone who truly listens and advocates for you, the right opportunity will come at the right time. There is no cookie-cutter path, and that’s okay.

At the end of the day, my success, and Tandym’s success, comes down to something very simple: be a good listener, be respectful, be kind, and be present. That human-centered approach is not only how I’ve built a career in recruiting, but also how we help people move forward in theirs.

Interested in working with recruiters who put people first? Learn more about how Tandym’s human-centered, relationship-driven approach supports candidates and clients alike.