Recruitment teams introduce the candidates to your company culture and help them understand why your business is a good place to work. However, their job isn't always easy, and the recruitment process isn't always appealing to the candidates either.
Recruiters and the latest recruitment technologies can smooth the recruitment process out and make it more efficient for both the applicants and the employers. If you're looking to stay at the top of your game and provide new opportunities for candidates and new hires for your company, you need to adhere to some recruitment industry trends.
Top 5 Current Recruitment Trends
Some of the best hiring trends and processes have been those that have evolved over the past few years. This includes business digitization and the development of processes that meet the demands of the contemporary labor market and environment. Here are the top five current recruitment trends that showcase just how far the recruitment industry has evolved in recent years:
Virtual Recruiting
Virtual recruiting became one of the most popular recruitment industry trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. A vast number of job seekers are becoming familiar with the remote recruitment process, while approximately 70% of companies have said that at least 50% of their recruiting and onboarding is done virtually. About 10% have reported full virtual recruitment through video interviews.
Virtual recruiting is becoming more and more pivotal in Human Capital Management, especially paired with remote working, as it allows talent acquisition beyond geographic boundaries.
Artificial Intelligence
Talent acquisition software based on artificial intelligence (AI) allows hiring managers to automate many steps of the hiring process. It also allows recruiters to use chatbots and job-posting platforms, source new hires, review resumes, and schedule virtual interviews.
However, some platforms use a blended approach; they let the AI comb through qualified candidates before someone in charge of decision-making plays a hand in narrowing the talent pool even further.
Online Webinars
The absence of job fairs, induced by the ongoing pandemic, cut off pretty effective recruitment channels. Admittedly, webinars seem a bit old compared to recruitment through social media or networks like Linkedin, but they will continue to prove as an effective recruitment method by creating brand awareness and increasing employer branding. Such recruitment strategies have already proven effective in bringing the right candidates into the recruitment pipeline
Internal Hiring
Internal recruiting has become a major talent acquisition strategy at numerous companies and organizations. It allows employers to find qualified candidates while reducing recruiting costs and improving employee retention. However, internal hiring is rarely done by HR professionals; most employees learn of openings within the company or through relationships with HR leaders.
Focus on DEI
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are becoming critically important to businesses and job seekers and a growing priority for recruiters. This new recruitment industry trend still factors in the most suitable, experienced, and qualified candidates, but it also allows employers and recruiters to look beyond whether employees are a good fit based on the job description alone.
3 Challenges Recruiters Are Facing
Being a recruiter is an exciting but often challenging job due to the fluidity of the job market inspired by new jobs being developed. Staying up to date with the most recent job market demands will help you circumvent many challenges you would otherwise face. Here are some you should be aware of:
Applicant Going To Competitors
Job applicants are interviewing you and your company in almost the same way you're interviewing them. On the one hand, workers entering the job market know their worth and aren't likely to settle for less, especially if there are more competitive offers out there.
On the other hand, businesses must have competitive job offers that include healthcare, paid time off, benefits, flexibility, and perhaps some adaptability. Not to mention competitive salaries and room to grow. Be willing to negotiate with potential candidates during the interview process. As always, you get what you're paying for, and the same applies to hiring new employees.
Delayed Hiring Process
Recruiters and businesses often lose potentially great candidates while searching for the perfect one. Companies and their talent acquisition teams often delay the hiring process while trying to find the perfect candidate. As a result, potential candidates lose interest since they're not sufficiently engaged in the hiring process and turn to competition.
Instead, provide transparency and explain different steps of the hiring process, and provide preset times for each step of the process, including when an offer might be presented. This will help minimize the chance of candidates "ghosting" you.
If the applicant is a strong choice but lacks working experience, they are likely an eager worker that is ready to upskill through training and expertise. However, if the candidate ghosts you, make sure to ask for feedback (via mail). Their feedback might help you provide a better candidate experience for future applicants and leave you in good graces with departing ones.
Poor Branding
If the company you're hiring for doesn't have a strong online presence, you're less likely to find suitable candidates. Prospective employees will research the company you're recruiting for online before taking you up on your offer. If your online presence is minimal or even harmful, they're less likely to be interested in working for your company.
Predictions: Recruitment Trends For 2022 And Beyond
Many recruitment industry trends from 2021 are likely to continue throughout the next year and probably evolve further along with the professional landscape. Here are some recruitment trend predictions for 2022:
Proactive Recruiting
Last year's uncertainties regarding the pandemic prompted recruiters into proactive recruiting — searching potential quality candidates suitable for a specific position before it even becomes available at the company.
Proactive recruitment allows recruiters to create pools of candidates from which they can draw as soon as a certain position or a new opportunity becomes available. This effectively cuts down on the hiring time and allows you to beat the competition.
Social Recruiting Will See An Increase In Effectiveness
Using social media in staffing and recruitment marketing will continue to grow as a key factor in all search strategies. Most companies and businesses are already using social media in some capacity during their hiring process; recruiters can use social media to search for candidates that are actively looking to be found.
Bigger Focus On Employer Branding
Having a recognizable employer brand is becoming more relevant, especially in an online world. Businesses that have an effective, strong employer brand usually attract up to 50% more qualified candidates, while over 70% of candidates will consider their employer's brand before submitting an application.
Summary
Getting acquainted with the aforementioned recruitment industry trends will help you stay ahead of the game, and more importantly, ahead of the competition. However, given the complexity of the hiring process, it makes sense for businesses to rely on staffing agencies and recruitment companies to assist with talent acquisition.
Why not request talent today, and experience the seamless, advanced hiring process Quadrant Inc has to offer. Quadrant Inc is one of the largest staffing firms in the Washington, DC metro region, staffing for a wide range of healthcare, technology, and machine learning, and federal customers. Pay them a visit and see what they have to offer.