We knew the talent pool would need to be global to meet demand over the next decade: Maria Christopoulos Katri, Founder of Built In

What began as a social networking experiment for startups in Chicago, the largest city in the American Midwest, has grown into a global tech hiring platform that currently hosts around 132,000 active jobs. In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the conference ET World Leaders ForumMaria Christopoulos Katris, Founder and CEO of Incorporatedspoke about the company’s evolution, its content-driven recruiting strategy, and the changing landscape of tech hiring. Edited excerpts:

Built In started as a social media platform for Chicago startups. How has your vision for the company evolved and what direction do you think it will take in the future?

Built In was originally launched as a platform for Chicago entrepreneurs to connect and tell the story of the city’s tech scene. Back then, Chicago was often overlooked as a tech hub. We were passionate about changing that narrative by highlighting the amazing companies and talent here. As the platform grew, we quickly realized the power of content to attract talent. Today, Built In has evolved into an employer brand-led recruiting platform, helping companies tell their stories to recruit the best. technological talentBuilt In’s future is global – we are now an international platform supporting all English-speaking technology professionals and companies worldwide, with the highest concentration in key regions such as Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, the UK and Singapore.Given the current challenges in recruiting tech talent, especially with the rise of remote work and Hybrid workHow is Built In addressing these changes?
The tech industry has seen dramatic changes in recent years, particularly with the rise of remote work. Initially, companies were quick to embrace remote hiring after the pandemic, but now many are returning to in-person models. At Built In, we’ve adapted and supported both remote hiring and hybrid hiring to meet the needs of our clients. There is still significant demand for remote roles – 70% of our job applications are for remote positions, but only 30% of the positions listed are remote. This discrepancy highlights the ongoing tug-of-war between what candidates want and what companies offer.

What are the most significant trends you are seeing in the tech industry today and how is Built In adapting to these trends?
One of the biggest trends we’ve seen is the shift in workplace dynamics, particularly with remote and hybrid work. While many companies initially embraced remote work, we’re now seeing a move back towards in-office roles. Additionally, there’s a growing trend to hire tech talent outside the US. This trend has accelerated, particularly during the economic crisis, and as all companies are becoming tech companies, we knew that the talent supply would need to be global to meet demand in the next decade. This led us to expand our platform internationally. We’re seeing increasing competition for tech talent in regions like India and Latin America, which is driving up salaries and making it crucial for companies to differentiate themselves through a strong employer brand.

As AI becomes more prevalent in recruiting, how does Built In integrate? AI Technologies Do you think AI will significantly change the recruiting landscape?

From SEO research to improving user experience through personalization, AI already plays a crucial role in our platform. However, we are cautious about how we apply AI. Our goal is to improve user experience without crossing into areas that could influence a company’s hiring decisions. While many believe that AI will simply take away jobs, I believe that is an “and” statement. AI will automate certain tasks and roles, and it will also create new opportunities and transform the nature of work in various sectors. AI will automate routine tasks, and new opportunities will emerge in areas such as AI ethics, data management, and system monitoring. Additionally, roles will have a greater emphasis on human skills that complement AI in the future.

Given the current economic climate, what strategies are you employing to ensure Built In continues to grow and remain relevant during periods of market uncertainty?

We have remained obsessively focused. It is easy for businesses to grasp at straws in tough times and try too many different things to bounce back. We have always stayed true to what we do best – supporting our target audience and delivering product-market fit. To protect our business, we have expanded globally to meet the needs of our customers. If we had not invested in our global strategy during this market crisis, we would have found ourselves in a difficult position. We have also shifted focus to larger enterprise customers, who still have hiring needs despite the economic climate. This has allowed us to balance our portfolio and ensure we remain relevant and resilient.