Shaping the Future of Recruitment – Andrew Wood and Denise Kirkham on AI, Skills, and Moving Beyond the CV
Denise Kirkham from Distinctive People is joined by Andrew Wood, Chief Customer Officer at Willo, to reflect on how recruitment will evolve over the next decade. The discussion coincides with Distinctive People’s 10-year anniversary, marking a moment to look forward at the innovations shaping hiring.
Andrew shares his belief that recruitment is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution, driven by AI and rapid shifts in required skills. He envisions richer candidate experiences, with video and virtual environments used to assess real capabilities rather than relying solely on past experience. This shift, he argues, will help organisations evaluate potential more effectively.
A passionate advocate for moving beyond the CV, Andrew challenges the profession to focus on skills, behaviours, and values rather than traditional markers like years of experience or past employers. CVs, he suggests, are outdated and often reinforce bias, while more dynamic assessment methods, from video interviews to psychometrics, can provide deeper insights into a candidate’s suitability.
The conversation also explores AI’s role in recruitment. While Andrew warns against a bots assessing bots future, he believes AI can and should be used to automate routine tasks, verify information, and speed up processes, ultimately freeing recruiters to spend more time connecting with people. He also sees potential for AI-driven customised assessments that evaluate individual skills with far greater nuance.
Together, Denise and Andrew emphasise that the future of recruitment lies in harnessing technology responsibly while keeping people at the centre. Their conversation reflects a shared commitment to helping candidates demonstrate potential, and to ensuring employers make better, more inclusive hiring decisions in an era of rapid change.
