COVID-19 Recruitment: Tips For Recruiting During A Pandemic
To say that the business world has shifted over the last year would be the understatement of this new decade. With the emergence of COVID-19, businesses witnessed a dramatic downturn in the global economy, with unemployment surging and people feeling more insecure financially than ever. Not only were the industries and companies already struggling prior to COVID severely impacted, but the rest of the business world quickly followed suit. This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to focus on active recruitment in the now, vs later.
Most of the businesses that are weathering the storm without suffering severe losses are businesses that provide consumer needs, not wants. The products and services that are thriving are those in industries like food, tech, and health.
However, throughout the pandemic, there are a plethora of industries that are thriving and looking for high-quality talent. Though many have been able to grow their business during this unprecedented time, many face complex challenges when it comes to recruiting and hiring. Here are four key lessons we've learned one year into the pandemic.
Hiring Isn’t Easy Right Now
With nearly 10% of working-age Americans presently unemployed, according to the latest jobs report, there might be a flickering thought that high-quality talent is there for the taking. However, this is not the case. As a growing number of organizations, like Twitter, Zillow, and Square, intend to hire remotely, the talent competition is no longer location dependent.
This is a quid-pro-quo. On the one hand, many companies now have access to a large pool of qualified candidates, but so do other tech leaders across the country. The world of companies that applicants are interviewing with has dramatically developed, and it's created a race to capture top talent.
On top of that, employed and robust talent has become increasingly challenging to recruit, as they are more likely to see a shift as a massive leap of faith during this unpredictable economy and time. It makes sense when you contemplate that over half of Americans are feeling less financially secure than they were last year. Those who may have been considering a change are likely to stay the course, making it that much more difficult for companies to demonstrate that what they're offering is competitive and "worth the risk."
Create And Communicate With Your Workplace Culture (Even Virtually!)
Demonstrating an organization's culture and hiring for cultural fit has been one of the most significant parts of the interview process are going virtual for both job seekers and employers. From the organization's perspective, it's more important now than ever to be very intentional about communicating your culture. Knowing that candidates no longer have the ability to sit in the waiting room and observing employees and hallway conversations or meetings in progress.
Additionally, the components of culture that are important to relate to job seekers have evolved, given the current state. Rather than concentrating on pre-COVID perks like free snacks, catered Friday lunches, and happy hours, focus on a culture of collaboration, dialogue, and esteem, and how those values continue to be lived out virtually.
While most corporate work might be remote for the foreseeable future, culture remains of utmost importance to applicants, and people are craving meaningful work. The surprise of something like the global health crisis makes people take a step back and consider how they're spending their time. While not a new notion, we're seeing surging interest among job seekers in working for mission-based groups. Remember, how companies navigate difficult times speaks volumes about their mission.
Take Advantage Of Virtual Recruiting
Virtual recruitment is one of the backbones of this "new normal" that has drastically influenced talent acquisition, and we predict it will continue to play an important role post-COVID. The current state has forced us to realize that current video technology is both seamless and easy to use. On top of that, it provides a way to read a candidate's facial emotions and body language and get to know them a bit more dynamically.
Virtual recruiting can help shorten the interview process and convert new hires more swiftly, as it reduces many of the headaches associated with organizing interview schedules. That being said, there is still meaningful value to in-person interviewing and recruitment, and we suspect that many businesses will adopt a hybrid format, notably when it comes to executive and C-level hires.
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Keep Job Seekers Engaged —Regardless Of Your Current Needs
With unemployment rates at a historic high, It's easy to generate a false sense of security, but the employers that are most successful are those who stay on the attack and take advantage of every occasion to recruit, hire and retain top talent.
Continue to be proactively involved with talent centers that are relevant to your business, even if your ability to hire has been smothered due to the industrial downturn. Keep your job seekers engaged as much as you can so they're the first to apply when things improve, and you can activate your recruitment strategy faster.
The recruitment world has always been an ever-changing one. Just a decade ago, promoting a new job listing online was considered novel. Now, many businesses, lead full online campaigns to attract and engage potential applicants, continually tweaking their presentation to stand out against the competition.
As professionals, it is imperative that we be nimble and receptive to factors like the economic landscape, shifting job-seeker performance, and more. The pandemic is the latest thing we need to respond to and, while it has not come without challenges, it has driven—and forced—the industry to think beyond our creative scope and innovate at a faster rate.