It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to acknowledge that recruitment strategies have been turned on its head. Whilst businesses adjust to working for home and evaluating the longer term financial impact of this current challenge. One thing is certain and that this will end…eventually. And although caution may still be in the air, businesses are finding a way to continue.
If you are one of those businesses who are currently recruiting then this really is the perfect opportunity to reach out and engage with prospect talent and hold those all important conversations. If you engage with sector specific recruiters for example, they will be in constant communication with their network. And with everyone based at home, these conversations about future career planning will be happening with a lot more ease.
As a business, you should be making great use of the technology available to you. Interviews can be held across a variety of video applications including What’sApp, Zoom, FaceTime and Skype etc etc and for those of you that also include competency tests as part of your recruitment process, then there are also an abundance of online solutions available as well.
When it comes to onboarding new hires, this can be more challenging. However, again we are seeing businesses get round this by utilising various team video chat rooms, screen sharing and scheduling applications. Jefferson for instance have seen a rise in our clients requesting that we get more involved in scheduling and onboarding process to ensure a smoother interaction and delivery for any new hires. Therefore managing this process from behind the scenes.
How can you keep candidates engaged?
This hopefully will be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but right now, with most of the industry working from home and in front of their computers. There is no better time to be promoting your business. And I don’t mean bang on your chest and shout from the rooftops about how great you are. Rather talk about culture, team spirit, how your business is coming together as one. Perhaps talk about how you are keeping each other sane whilst maintaining the very values that you built your business on.
To do this there are an abundance of channels available to you like your LinkedIn company page, Facebook, Instagram and your own blog pages etc etc. More so now than ever, use these channels, whilst people have more time on their hands. You can even go as far as talking about how individuals within your agency are coming up with inventive ways to keep themselves occupied beyond work. It doesn’t all have to be serious. In fact the more fun and amusing the posts the more people will connect with you and your business. So don’t just use this time to promote pure business ideas. Remember the personal touch.
And if you were caught in the middle of a hiring process and perhaps have had to press hold. Then don’t go cold turkey on your candidates. Team up with your recruitment partners and ensure there is regular weekly contact with your short list. Even if there isn’t much to add. A regular keep in touch programme will mean that you are thinking about them and to rest assured when this is over the torch will be lifted once again. Because remember, when this does come to an end, you’ll want to be fresh out of the block and ready to move on talent as there will be a lot of ground to make up.
How can you use your extra time to look at the long term goals of our recruitment?
If you want to get some positivity out of all of this then look at it this way. You will never get this opportunity again to use the time to evaluate your own business. We will come out of this and now is the time to prepare for when we do. So look at your hiring strategy for this year and next. Evaluate the process but perhaps most importantly look at your own story. Look at what inspires talent and get back in touch with why you set up your business in the first place and what you stand for.
This is the perfect time for reflection and if required make the changes that are needed to help move your business forward once this is all over. Whether that’s re evaluating your work from home policies, the mental health and wellbeing for your employees or how you promote your business beyond trying to attract new business. Look at how your might promote your story to potential talent. There are numerous channels available for you. And whether you manage the recruitment process internally or partner with a specialist. Either way now is the time to push your story through all these channels.
I believe, just as in life, businesses also need time to stop and breath for a moment. Whether that is forced upon us or chosen. Use this time wisely to evaluate and if necessary prepare to make the necessary changes to align your business with the original values that you stand for.
If you’d like any further advice on recruitment planning, onboarding or talent management then feel free to get in touch with me, Tom Howe, by clicking this link.
