Case Study: Transforming Cybersecurity Hiring in Saudi Arabia

Executive Summary

This case study examines how shortlistd.io's AI agents addressed critical talent acquisition challenges for a global professional services firm's Middle East Cyber Strategy division. The recruitment was for their end client, one of the largest banks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, demonstrating significant improvements in both cost efficiency and candidate quality.

Client Profile

Organization: Global Professional Services Firm - Middle East Cyber Strategy Division
Client Contact: Managing Director & Regional Cyber Strategy Lead
Industry Focus: Cybersecurity and IT services for major government and enterprise clients

Challenge Overview

Primary Pain Points

1. Cost Inefficiency

• The firm's fully loaded employment costs were significantly high

• Required 5-year dedicated projects to justify hiring full-time employees (FTEs)

• Potential for cost savings through external hiring identified

2. Quality Control Issues

• Existing subcontractor relationships suffered from poor candidate matching

• Frequent misalignment between requested and delivered skill sets

• Example: Receiving GRC specialists when security architects were needed

3. Specific Talent Requirements

• High demand for specialized roles (Security Architects with SABSA framework expertise)

• Need for Arabic-speaking professionals

• Geographic constraints (Riyadh-based positions)

• Regulatory restrictions on certain nationalities

Immediate Staffing Need

Position: 3x Security Architects

Key Requirements:

• Expert-level SABSA framework knowledge

• Experience with major projects (PIF, Royal Court, Ministry, Riyadh Air)

• Arabic language proficiency

• Riyadh-based availability

• 12-month renewable contracts

Solution Approach

Technology Stack:

• Access to 200+ million candidate profiles

• Swarm of autonomous AI agents for sourcing and screening

• Advanced online interviewing capabilities

• Multi-country compliance framework (150+ countries)

Service Offerings:

1. Autonomous AI Recruitment: AI agents independently source, screen, and interview candidates

2. Managed Recruitment Services: Full-service recruitment using AI-enhanced processes

Process Innovation

Quality Assurance Mechanism:

• AI interviewer conducts proactive screening before human review

• Exact specification matching before candidate presentation

• Thorough assessment through online interviewing tools

Compliance and Onboarding:

• Global hiring capabilities across 150 countries

• Compliant onboarding processes

• Risk mitigation for international talent acquisition

Implementation Results

Initial Performance

Scope: 5 candidate profiles submitted within a week
Success Rate: 60% (3 out of 5 profiles were successful)
Quality Improvement: Significant reduction in mismatches

Client Testimonial

"I tested the approach, and they sent me a few profiles, in the first trial out of 5 profiles, 3 were very good fits to the requirements."

— Managing Director & Regional Cyber Strategy Lead

Value Delivered

1. Cost Optimization

• Achieved cost savings compared to FTE hiring

• Eliminated need for long-term project commitments

2. Quality Enhancement

• Dramatic improvement in candidate-requirement alignment

• Pre-vetted talent pool addressing previous quality concerns

3. Process Efficiency

• Streamlined sourcing and screening process

• Reduced time-to-hire through AI automation

Strategic Impact

Business Process Transformation

The collaboration demonstrated a shift from traditional recruitment models to AI-enhanced talent acquisition, addressing both immediate staffing needs and long-term strategic objectives.

Scalability Potential

The success of the initial trial positioned shortlistd.io as a strategic partner for the client’s broader talent acquisition needs across multiple projects and regions.

Key Success Factors

1. Technology-Driven Approach: Leveraging AI to solve traditional recruitment challenges

2. Quality-First Methodology: Ensuring candidate-requirement alignment before presentation

3. Global Reach with Local Expertise: Combining international talent access with regional compliance

4. Cost-Effective Solutions: Delivering significant savings without compromising quality

Conclusion

The global professional services firm x shortlistd.io collaboration demonstrates how AI-powered recruitment platforms can effectively address complex talent acquisition challenges in specialized industries. By combining advanced technology with human expertise, the partnership achieved measurable improvements in both cost efficiency and candidate quality, establishing a foundation for long-term strategic collaboration.

The case illustrates the potential for AI-enhanced recruitment to transform traditional hiring processes, particularly in sectors requiring highly specialized skills and compliance with complex regulatory requirements.

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