Attracting Skilled Candidates in Tough Times
The recruitment industry acts as a weather vane. Whether a political change such as Brexit or when the economy takes a hit, it is one of the first business indicators.
March 2020 saw one of the biggest challenges facing not only the recruitment industry, but the entire world. As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the working of lives of millions were changed overnight.
From employees being placed on furlough, to a rise in redundancies and a seismic shift in working patterns. With national lockdown came an increase in remote working. Suddenly juggling home life with work and childcare, all in the same location, was a significant cultural change for many.
And looking for a job during this period was totally different from anything anyone had experienced before. Interviews were now virtual almost without exception, and the first day in the office wasn’t actually in the office. But companies and employees adapted quickly and made adjustments to workplaces to ensure they were COVID secure and ready to welcome employees back once they were able to.
Rather than the pandemic making attracting and retaining talent easier, the effects on the workplace and disruption to lives have made it even more challenging. While there may be more candidates on the market than usual, attracting top talent remains a struggle.
So how do you attract skilled candidates during tough times?
Use your recruitment software
Start the conversation and engage with people by using your recruitment software to nurture your existing candidate database. With Access Recruitment CRM you can set reminders to reach out to candidates to touch base and keep them up to date with opportunities.
Connecting on a human level is now more important than ever, and responding empathetically to people’s potential reluctance to move roles will help overcome counter offers. Recording the salient information on your recruitment CRM is critical, especially as your teams are working remotely and less able to overhear conversations relating to interviews and job offers that could impact your potential to place a candidate.
Adapt the workplace
Adapting the workplace and ensuring it is COVID secure can help give them peace of mind. This is relevant for both your own recruitment business and your clients’ working environments.
Staff and candidates will be looking for reassurance. Making the workplace a safer, healthier place and allowing flexible hybrid working patterns can help with both talent attraction and retention. Work with your clients to access success stories and showcase them to your candidates.
Support wellbeing
Over the last 12 months people have suffered, with many experiencing mental health issues and possibly loss or financial hardship. Employers now have an opportunity to demonstrate to their employees that they care and want to invest in their wellbeing.
Work/life balance has been brought to the forefront during the pandemic and employers that offer support programs will see a boost in employee retention.
Most candidates will want to understand before attending an interview how the organisation has fared through Covid and how they have treated their staff. This is the new benchmark for employer attraction.
