Recruitment is a mess. Ad agencies, digital marketing firms, and other recruiting companies are facing the same challenges that all businesses do as they look to find top talent. And while it might seem like there’s no end in sight, new strategies are being implemented every day that can help narrow down the competition and make hiring more efficient than ever before. Recruiting is an industry where change comes quickly and frequently. Think about it: Any time a major company announces changes to their hiring policies or new competitors start to steal their best talent, brand-new rules for agency recruitment software come into play as well. It’s enough to keep anyone up at night wondering if things will get better eventually, but what does all of this mean for individual job seekers? Let’s explore…
Live chat is the new resume
The past few years have been a major boom time for live chat solutions. The software like Recruiterflow has become ubiquitous enough to be used in nearly every online interaction between a job seeker and a hiring manager. The same technology that’s become a critical hiring tool for employers has also enabled candidates to find more clarity around their experience and career goals through a series of live video interviews. Live chat allows employers to be extremely efficient and effective in their hiring process. That said, it’s important to note that live chat is not a substitute for a traditional resume. Candidates are still responsible for listing relevant work experience, education, and skills relevant to the job they’re applying for. It’s just another tool that can be used in conjunction with the traditional resume.
Higher pay isn’t the new hiring standard
Pay gaps among industries have been a hot topic for several years now, but the issue is finally starting to get some attention from employers. The conversation around equal pay has become so pervasive that the majority of employers (57%) said they’re making pay adjustments to better align salaries with the real-world value of work. This shift in hiring culture has led to a new standard for compensation. No longer are higher salaries the only factor that matters when a company chooses to hire one candidate over another. Instead, companies are increasingly looking at how well a candidate aligns with the company culture, how quickly they can get the job done, and what they can offer the team as a whole.
Apps are the new face-to-face interviews
Face-to-face interviews are still a thing, but they’re no longer the only method of finding new hires. In fact, more than half of employers (51%) now say they’re looking for candidates through digital channels like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Reddit. Hands-on experience with apps is increasingly becoming the new standard for finding new employees. That means candidates will have to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of their tools, both big and small, and prove they can use them effectively. Candidates will also have to demonstrate the ability to work independently and in a collaborative setting. To find the best and most qualified candidates, employers have turned to apps like Zoom and Google Hangouts. These tools enable employers to conduct face-to-face interviews virtually, while also allowing candidates to demonstrate their skills and knowledge through video.
Employers are more willing to meet in person
It’s no secret that the majority of companies use video as a interviewing method. However, the rise in popularity of live video also means that employers are becoming more comfortable meeting candidates in person. More than half of employers (52%) now say they’re comfortable meeting candidates in person, up from just 13% four years ago. This shift reflects a growing willingness among employers to explore different hiring channels.
Virtual workforces are the future of work flexibility
The days of placing a job ad, then immediately sending out a barrage of cold calls are long gone. In fact, employers are now much more likely to recruit candidates through digital ads and social media posts, rather than phone calls or emails. This trend toward more flexible work has become even more prevalent as companies look for new ways to keep up with changing hiring needs. While nearly half (47%) say they’re satisfied with the number of qualified candidates they’re finding now, these employers say they’d like to see the number of qualified candidates increase by as much as 25%. This shift toward continuous recruiting means that hiring is never complete. That means that companies are never too busy to make a new hire, even if they’re experiencing a slowdown.
Bottom line
Recruitment has always been a challenging process, but with new technologies, changes in hiring culture, and a commitment to continuous recruiting, it’s never been easier to find great talent. The best thing that job seekers can do is continue to invest their time and energy by maintaining a positive mindset, researching the hiring process, and staying engaged with their career.