The world is busy trying to adapt to new ways of living and working, and corporate recruitment is no exception to this. Things may very well remain unpredictable and uncertain for a while, so rather than biding your time until things return to ‘normal’ (they may not), it may be best to embrace the changes and make the most of them.
Being flexible and adopting new technology sooner rather than later can also ensure that your company is in a great position in the future, since the new technologies and innovations of today are likely to stay around and keep expanding even beyond the current pandemic.
Look for the Opportunities
While the changes currently taking place have been highly disruptive to recruitment, the companies that are able to evolve and adapt can turn some of their difficulties into opportunities. Developing a new hiring strategy is not only helpful for meeting the current challenges head on, but may also lead to a far more streamlined and cost-effective recruitment process in the longer term. Being solution-oriented and innovative will also make you stand out as a desirable employer both now and in the future.
In terms of finding new employees, over 20% of the UK’s workforce is currently furloughed or newly unemployed, so a lot of high-quality candidates have recently entered the pool of potential recruits, and they are actively searching for both long- and short-term opportunities. In general, people are also more likely to be able to attend an online job interview at a short notice, and with an increase in remote working, it’s far easier to reach excellent candidates living further afield.
Adapt Your Recruitment Strategies
Recruitment needs haven’t changed – it’s still necessary to advertise, interview candidates, and eventually hire the best talent – but most companies have had to develop a new hiring system to meet these needs. In order to optimize your process, there are two areas to pay particular attention to: technology and communication.
Embrace Technology in the Recruitment Process
There has been a massive shift to the use of digital methods in recruitment, and this trend is likely to stay prevalent in the long term. The right tools can make the process of hiring more streamlined and budget-friendly, so it’s a good time to invest in and make greater use of technology.
Pre-selection of Candidates
One way to utilize technology to speed up recruitment (especially when you’re dealing with high volumes of applications) is automatic screening of candidates early in the selection process.
You could ask potential employees to fill in an online survey that covers all the criteria that are essential for succeeding in the job (such as availability during evenings, access to adequate equipment for remote working, or previous customer service experience), and use an automated system to filter out all the people who are not a good fit. Automating this part of the process can lead to interviewing candidates much sooner, helping you fill a position fast.
Interviewing
Video interviews are currently a necessity, but they may well become the default preferred method in time. For starters, video interviews are more convenient to arrange than face-to-face ones, and with permission, they can be easily recorded, re-watched and shared, making the process of picking the best person for the job more effective.
While it’s possible to use any popular video conference application from Zoom to Hangouts to interview candidates, it may be worth looking into more specialized tools too, especially if you expect to conduct a large number of virtual interviews.
Specialist video interviewing software can offer many benefits, such as automatic interview scheduling to avoid clashes. It’s even possible to use machine learning algorithms based on the responses given during an interview to analyse candidate suitability, helping managers quickly identify and focus on the very best options.
Regardless of the tools used, video interviews need to be structured and carefully planned in advance. Remember too that you’re not limited to one-on-one interviews – group interviews, candidate presentations and role-play situations are all still options during video calls.
Communication is Key
Effective communication has never been more important in the recruitment process. While things shift and evolve, keeping your potential hires in the loop about your company’s situation and hiring process demonstrates that you’re an outstanding employer. There are various stages where it’s critical to double check that everyone is properly informed about any changes:
Job offers
With all the uncertainty around work in many industries, potential employees will be anxious to know exactly what a job offer entails. Make sure to be completely transparent and communicate clearly what you are able to offer, be it a permanent position with benefits or a temporary opportunity. If the position is likely to evolve over time, make that part of the job description as well. Finally, if you’re currently in a hiring freeze, contact any candidates on hold to briefly explain the situation and estimate (if possible) when you might look to hire again.
Another thing that may need reviewing and specifying is the range of qualities you look for in a candidate. In a recent survey, 25% of UK workers indicated that they would prefer not to return to the office full-time after the pandemic-related restrictions are lifted, and a more flexible arrangement may work well for employers too.
Therefore, if a position is remote (for now or permanently), a successful candidate may need to be able to demonstrate additional skills and qualities relevant to remote working, so make sure these new requirements are clearly described when advertising the position.
The Recruitment Process
If you have moved away from your usual recruitment process, make sure you have updated all the relevant details on your website, social media channels, and automated emails sent to potential candidates. Consider writing a separate recruitment FAQ to describe all the steps you’re currently following from interviews to on-boarding in detail to avoid confusion and help candidates feel prepared.
Prepare for the Future
The tips above should help you to change the way you recruit to fit the current global uncertainty and ensure your business comes out the other end in the best shape it can. When the situation does improve, you’ll be ready to capitalize on the new opportunities available. But remember above all else to stay positive and safe, and we’ll see you on the other side!
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