For any HR department, building a targeted pool of candidates broken down by profile is a strategic and complex task.

Elior, a French company focusing on catering and related services, has a new recruitment strategy (the company hires some 7,000 people per year, 30% of whom are young graduates) that automates the pre-selection process for applications submitted to its dedicated online platform.

The key tool of this new approach is a chatbot that directs visitors towards the various professions the company offers. This in itself is not new; the innovation lies in the fact that the chatbot is a recruitment channel in its own right, allowing candidates to apply directly without sending a CV or cover letter.

By opting for this means of communication, Elior allows its HR teams to focus on value-added tasks, but also boosts its own visibility.

The new recruitment method goes hand-in-hand with a new branding effort called #LeJobQueJeVeux (#TheJobThatIWant). Employees are the focus of the company's commitments concerning integration into the company, adapting to one's position and career development.

Employee retention is one of the company's priorities: 47% of managers hired in 2017 were internal candidates and Elior has committed to increasing this to 70% by 2025.