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Natural Language Processing (NLP) is the branch of computer science, or more specifically, the branch of artificial intelligence or AI, concerned with giving computers the ability to understand text and spoken words as human beings can.
NLP combines computational linguistics — rule-based modeling of human language — with statistical machine learning and deep learning models. These technologies enable computers to process human language to understand its full meaning.
The Different Types of Natural Language Processing
Email Filters
Email filters are one of the most basic and initial applications of NLP online. One of the more prevalent applications of NLP is in Gmail’s email classification. Based on their content, the system recognizes if emails belong to one of three categories (primary, social, or promotions).
Smart Assistants
Smart assistants like Siri and Alexa can understand and respond to human speech and perform tasks based on voice commands. Assistants understand contextual clues as they make certain activities easier, respond humorously, or answer questions about themselves.
Search Results
Search engines use NLP to surface relevant results based on similar search behaviors or user intent so the average person finds what they need without being a search-term wizard. Google predicts what popular searches may apply to your query as you start typing, looks at the whole picture, and recognizes what you’re trying to say.
Predictive Text
With predictive text, you can write and complete sentences with a few taps. As you type, you can see choices for words and phrases you’d probably type next, based on your past conversations, writing style, and even websites you visit.
Data analysis
NLP capabilities are being integrated into data analysis workflows, making it possible for computers to read, hear, and analyze language-based data.
Applying language to investigate data enhances accessibility and lowers the barrier to analytics across organizations.
Natural Language Processing in the Hiring Space
Recruiters must review hundreds, sometimes thousands, of resumes for a single job posting. Unsurprisingly, hiring managers can spend hours filtering at the top of the funnel. NLP saves time in analyzing inbound resumes and screening candidates.
NLP can also help remove subconscious bias and increase diversity in candidates, as it is a powerful “listening” technique that HR teams may use to identify employee potential and talent, determine competency, and track behavior trends.
Using NLP to help assess candidates’ skills, competencies and job fit can help reduce opportunities for human bias in the hiring and evaluation process, and create a more level playing field for all applicants.
“Automated text analysis can capture skills, personality, and other traits, primarily by using natural language processing, which has a long history of research in linguistics and psychology,” Michael Campion, Ph.D., Herman C. Krannert, Distinguished Professor of Management, said in a recent Talent Select AI interview.
“What is really new about it is not necessarily the core technology, although some things are new there, it's the application to employment decisions, which is an obvious application because there's so much narrative information.”
AI-assisted applicant screening, which could focus on the early stages of the hiring process, like resume screening or first-round interviews, “can help allow hiring managers to spend more time evaluating and communicating with the most qualified candidates,” explains Will Rose, Chief Technology Officer at Talent Select AI.
“It can also assist in later-stage evaluations by providing automated assessments, including psychometric evaluations.”
How Talent Select AI Utilizes Natural Language Processing
Talent Select AI delivers the first truly non-invasive way to quickly and objectively understand your candidates’ psychology, personality traits, and core skills — including the Great Eight, Big Five, and more.
Using highly-validated Natural Language Processing technology, Talent Select AI measures words that reflect underlying skills and abilities. In addition to the Big Five / OCEAN personality traits and the Great Eight Competencies, Talent Select AI measures proprietary traits that add value beyond traditional competencies and personality traits, including enthusiasm, grit, proactiveness, and empathy.
NLP-based AI tools like Talent Select AI can help provide an unbiased assessment of each candidate. Talent Select AI is designed to ignore personally identifying information, and the technology has been heavily validated to ensure the absence of bias or adverse impact.
Traditional psychometric assessments, which have been used for decades by many large employers, add a significant extra step in the hiring process requiring candidates to take a lengthy assessment.
With Talent Select AI, you can analyze the job interview transcript using natural language processing (NLP) to provide reliable psychometric insights without that extra step, making it easier to quickly identify and prioritize best-fit candidates – regardless of background.
Ready to bring the power of AI and NLP to your hiring process?
Talent Select AI is committed to making hiring more efficient and inclusive, so you can identify and hire best-fit candidates, faster.
Contact us today to see how Talent Select AI can help make your hiring goals a reality.
