Changing landscapes in recruitment: a critical analysis of past, present and future

Purpose Recruitment practices have significantly evolved from the pre-internet era to the artificial intelligence (AI) era. Considering the significant shifts happening, we firmly believe that a thorough review of the literature is necessary to comprehend the changes and anticipate the way forward. The purpose of this paper is threefold: to review the literature on recruitment across different timeframes; identify the major recruitment practices and techniques, as well as the challenges faced at different times; and suggest areas for future research. Design/methodology/approach The authors have used the integrative literature review method. The selected articles were studied and categorized into three timeframes to identify major trends and outline critical challenges. Findings Findings revealed that the recruitment domain has witnessed numerous benefits due to ongoing technological changes. However, findings also highlight the multitude of challenges brought on by the different socio-technological shifts. The findings underscore the need for an adaptable theoretical framework that can accommodate these changes. Further, we delineate several issues, such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), affective AI, sustainability and dehumanization of the recruitment process as potential future research areas. Research limitations/implications The study offers interesting theoretical and policy implications to benefit future researchers and practitioners in understanding the journey ahead. Originality/value The study undertakes a unique endeavor to outline recruitment developments over different time periods and suggests avenues for future researchers to explore the path ahead.