The workplace is evolving rapidly and the pandemic has accelerated changes. As companies look for talent, knowing what strategies to use can give them a competitive edge. The following hiring trends reveal how much technology has become critical in the recruitment process.
They also reveal the importance of the human element in recruiting and how technology is meant to support but not replace this. The ultimate objective is for businesses to attract the right talent in a way that enhances the candidate experience.
- More focus on flexibility
The job market has become more flexible over the past decade. During the pandemic, employers have found that employees are able to be productive while working remotely. In 2021 there is likely to be even more flexibility with regard to working from home, work hours or even having a hybrid of working at home and requiring employees to come into the office only a day or two in a week.
Good employment contracts are essential in flexible work situations and they can be downloaded from the Netlaw Man website. They often contain non competition clauses that restrict employees from working for a competitor post-employment.
- Organizations are hiring for ‘soft skills’
There is a widespread skills deficit and some of the top soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, are in great demand. Employers are likely to be looking for candidates who can find new ways for businesses to survive and thrive in the current economic climate.
Candidates will need to be able to demonstrate innovative thinking to employers. Many repetitive jobs are likely to be automated in the future and those with the essential soft skills will be in demand.
- Increased use of artificial intelligence
The use of automation and artificial intelligence is becoming more prevalent for recruiters and job seekers. Automation and other digital recruitment trends have already been around for a while but the latest technologies are a great improvement on the earliest versions.
Integrated technology tools are making it easier to see a company through the entire employee life cycle, including the hiring process. Unlike people, AI does not have any bias when it comes to screening hires.
It can take time to achieve such an objective recruitment process and this depends mostly on machine learning. Machine learning allows improved matching of candidates to jobs. Gaining valuable insights into candidates is possible now with pattern recognition, NLP and candidate data.
- Improved candidate experience
The days are gone when an interview felt like an interrogation instead of a discussion. Companies are actively looking for ways to make the interview process more of a positive experience. A poor hiring experience can result in adverse publicity for a company, whereas a positive one can result in candidates telling their contacts about the benefits the company has to offer.
To make the hiring experience more successful, recruiters have to segment candidate types and decide which hiring journey addresses their specific expectations. They also have to make sure their approach aligns with the company’s corporate values, goals and culture.
- More reliance on social recruiting
Companies are increasingly using social networks to find, attract and hire talent. Aside from easy access, social media-based recruiting means that there is a possibility for one-on-one engagement that helps to make candidates feel valued. One of the social media channels businesses use the most to search for promising candidates today is LinkedIn.
From the perspective of applicants, they are looking for companies that offer remote work, flexible policies that allow them to spend more time with family and good health coverage.