After a tumultuous 2020, it's understandable that businesses might be more cautious when it comes to recruiting this year.
However, as we delve into the first quarter of the new year, we’re seeing a big push from businesses adapting to challenges while candidates get creative in order to stand out in a very crowded job market, both setting new trends in recruitment that might be here to stay.
In this blog, we’re going to share our thoughts on where we see Recruitment going this year and the trends you should be on the lookout for.
Remote working is here to stay
Flexible working arrangements are no longer ‘nice to have’ but are now here to stay. We’re seeing more businesses include remote working in job descriptions, in fact 64% of organisations have stated this will be a permanent change they will incorporate beyond the pandemic.
We can see why more people are routing for this as it offers a wide range of benefits for both employers and employees. Not only does it offer flexibility and a better work-life balance for employees but it also cuts out the commute, reduces travel expenses and has been proven to boost productivity.
For businesses, remote working means an expansion of the search radius for top talent, resulting in higher quality candidates to choose from, plus a reduction in expensive office costs.
Virtual hiring isn’t going anywhere
At Talent Wing we’re familiar with the process of virtual hiring, as we usually meet all potential candidates over Zoom before putting them forward for a role. We’re sure there will come a time when we’re able to meet face-to-face but for now, businesses must adapt to this process, as an increase of remote working will mean virtual hiring will be here to stay.
Carrying out the recruitment process remotely offers a wealth of benefits for all. Firstly, no travelling means everyone saves time and makes squeezing interviews into a busy schedule even easier, plus there’s also no chance of disruption to your day from being late due to public transport delays, traffic or no shows.
Finally and most importantly, it opens the door to more top talent. Distance is no longer a barrier and it's become easier than ever before to stay connected virtually. It really is a win win situation!
Social media as a recruitment tool
This trend has been in motion long before the pandemic, however as unemployment rises to record levels, we’re seeing users find more innovative ways of finding new roles and candidates using social media. For example, have you noticed anyone using the ‘open to work’, ‘open to opportunities’ or ‘hiring’ banners on their profile pictures?
Social media is a great tool to use to build your personal or business brand and grow a network of industry professionals, especially on LinkedIn. But remember, get creative to stand out from competitors (they’ll be using social media too), have a clear plan of how you want to utilise your account in mind and perfect your profile. You never know what opportunities can come from your next follower or connection!
Plan for the future and recruit the right way
It’s more crucial than ever to plan for the future and safeguard your business. We predict businesses will prioritise having a more thorough recruitment plan this year, in order to save valuable time, money and resources. There’s nothing worse than spending months tracking down the right candidate, only to find out six months after onboarding that they’re not a right fit for the business and repeat the process again.
There’s more to a star candidate than the CV
The job market is the most crowded it's ever been, meaning there's a wider pool of talent available, so both employers and employees need to realise there’s much more to an ideal candidate than what's written on their CV. With business and technology progressing so quickly and with many people changing industries, it’s more about soft skills, long term potential and cultural fit. This is arguably more important than experience and the words written on the CV.
As mentioned above, social media will play a big role in recruitment going forward, so candidates need to make sure their LinkedIn profile is up to date and includes relevant skills. Pro tip: ask past employers to leave a testimonial on your profile!
Recruitment might feel a lot different than what it did a year ago, but the trends that have emerged from the pandemic will not only stay for the long haul but they will change the process forever. Taking a more digital approach and adopting the above into the recruitment strategy will see employers and candidates reach their targets for 2021 in a much more efficient and effective way.
If you’re looking to grow your team this year or on the hunt for a new challenge and would like more information about Talent Wing can support you, get in touch today!