Agentic AI is no longer a theoretical concept reserved for research labs; it’s now shaping how organisations hire, manage and retain tech talent. And for recruitment agencies and employers across Ireland, the UK and Europe, this shift is already underway.
If 2024 was the year of “AI copilots,” 2025-26 is the year of AI collaborators, systems that can plan, act and execute multi-step tasks with minimal intervention. For tech hiring managers, the impact is twofold:
- Agentic AI is changing the skills required by software professionals.
- Agentic AI is changing how recruitment teams source, screen, and engage candidates.
This blog explores both sides, helping employers prepare for what’s coming and position themselves competitively in a rapidly shifting market.
Instead of generic outreach, AI agents tailor messages to candidate history, skill sets and seniority.
What is Agentic AI and Why Is It Relevant to Recruitment?
Agentic AI refers to systems that can act autonomously toward a defined goal. Rather than responding to a single prompt, an agent can:
- Interpret a hiring requirement
- Analyse job descriptions
- Search databases
- Rank candidate suitability
- Produce insights
- Take actions such as messaging or scheduling
This is already emerging in tools like:
LinkedIn’s Hiring Assistant (2025 preview)
Expected to become standard by 2026, LinkedIn’s agentic AI assistant can:
- Draft personalised outreach messages
- Screen profiles against job requirements
- Suggest interview questions
- Summarise candidate backgrounds
- Generate shortlists in minutes
This marks a major shift in hiring, especially in the highly competitive tech sector.
Recruitment CRM embedded AI agents
Most modern ATS and CRM providers (Bullhorn, Greenhouse, Workday) now offer:
- AI-drafted job ads
- Automated candidate re-engagement
- Predictive matching
- Skill-based candidate ranking
For a recruitment agency, this means: less time on repetitive tasks, more time on relationship building.
How Agentic AI Is Changing What Tech Employers Look For
Agentic AI is reshaping the expectations placed on tech professionals themselves. Developers, data engineers and DevOps specialists are now expected to work alongside AI agents as part of the workflow.
1. AI-assisted software development is becoming standard
Coding agents can now draft whole functions, run tests and open pull requests. This places new importance on:
- System thinking
- Reviewing AI-generated code
- Understanding model limitations
- Ensuring security and compliance
2. New skills are emerging fast
Hiring managers are increasingly prioritising:
- “Agent literacy”, working with AI-powered development environments
- Prompt engineering for technical tasks
- Experience with coding agents (e.g., GitHub Agent HQ)
- Knowledge of AI governance frameworks
3. Higher-value human skills are more important than ever
As agentic AI handles repetitive work, employers now emphasise:
- Communication
- Product thinking
- Collaboration
- Creative problem solving
These differentiators are becoming essential when filling mid-senior engineering roles.
How Agentic AI Is Transforming Recruitment Agencies
For agencies like PE Global, agentic AI is not a threat; it’s a catalyst. It enhances efficiency, speeds up hiring and improves candidate experience.
1. Faster Sourcing and Shortlisting
Agentic AI can search multiple databases, job boards and CRMs simultaneously, using deeper keyword logic than manual search.
This means:
- Faster shortlists
- More accurate matches
- Reduced time-to-hire
- Better outcomes for clients
2. Improved Candidate Engagement
With AI-driven assistants:
- Follow-ups can be automated
- Personalised messaging can scale
- Candidate “drop-off” can be reduced
- Re-engagement campaigns become more targeted
Instead of generic outreach, AI agents tailor messages to candidate history, skill sets and seniority.
3. Better Job Advert Performance
AI can optimise job descriptions by:
- Rewriting ads for clarity and SEO
- Tailoring them for specific markets
- Suggesting skills-based structures
- Ensuring inclusive language
With Google and LinkedIn algorithms favouring structured, consistent job postings, this is a major competitive advantage.
4. More Strategic Use of Recruiters’ Time
Agentic AI doesn’t replace recruiters, it removes the administrative load.
Recruiters can now spend more time:
- Building client relationships
- Advising on labour-market conditions
- Interviewing candidates in depth
- Supporting contract negotiations
This shift moves agencies further up the value chain.
What Should Employers Do to Stay Ahead?
Here are practical, recruitment-focused steps tech hiring managers should take now.
1. Update job descriptions to include Agentic AI experience
Roles increasingly require:
- Experience with AI-assisted coding
- Understanding of AI-powered workflows
- Awareness of data security and governance around AI tools
This helps attract future-ready candidates.
2. Add AI-specific interview questions
Examples:
- “How do you validate AI-generated code?”
- “Describe a time you used an autonomous agent in your workflow.”
- “What tasks would you not delegate to an AI agent and why?”
3. Work with recruitment partners who use AI responsibly
Agencies that invest in agentic AI provide:
- Faster access to talent
- Better matching
- Stronger insights into emerging skills
- More consistent candidate experience
4. Prepare for shorter hiring cycles
With AI-driven sourcing and screening, the market will move faster, especially for tech roles in high demand.
Agentic AI Will Reshape Tech Hiring, but People Still Make the Decisions
Agentic AI will influence every part of the recruitment process over the next 12–24 months. But it will not replace the human elements that matter most:
- Understanding team culture
- Recognising potential beyond the CV
- Advising clients and candidates
- Building long-term relationships
For employers, the winners will be those who embrace AI where it offers genuine value and partner with recruitment specialists who understand how to apply it effectively.
