This has been a rough year for most companies, with COVID-19 forcing many changes in the way the world does business. As we look ahead to 2021, here are seven key recruiting and hiring trends that we anticipate will continue to reshape the way companies think about employees and talent acquisition.
1. REMOTE EMPLOYEES
Working remotely will continue to be a common practice in 2021. This means many positions will be open to a new talent pool of non-local candidates. This will increase competition for job openings and allow employers a shot at top candidates that they might not otherwise have access to. Every company has had to put a new level of trust in their staff to work remotely and this trend is paying off. Some positions which never had been considered as remote are now the new normal.
Companies have built trust in their employees’ productivity, efficiency and this has now opened up many positions to a vast new talent pool of non-local candidates. Because it is now more difficult to meet customers face to face, inside sales and telesales roles are now trending as more popular. Product driven inside sales reps are at a premium.
2. VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS
With many companies making the change to allowing remote work, the importance of virtual interviews will grow. The need for in-person interviewing will be less of a “must” until the final interview (if it is needed at all). Companies have adapted and shifted their attitudes about the need to interview in person and will become more invested in the use of technology to facilitate the interview process. This hiring recruitment trend aligns with the trend we are seeing for remote employees.
3. IMPORTANCE OF BRANDING
We have always been a proponent of our clients consistently building their brand to help attract top candidates. In the era of COVID-19, businesses will need to continue to look at the way they treat employees and their families. A company’s internal and external image is always on display and job seekers (and your current employees) care about how you have reacted (and will react) to the pandemic.
4. INTERNAL HIRES
Clients need to look internally first before looking externally for talent and reward those within that have the potential to accelerate their careers. Looking internally builds loyalty and allows the development of in-house talent that already knows your policies, systems, customers, and vendors.
Lack of career path growth is a big trend in why people leave a company. Therefore, promoting from within should be your first consideration when a position becomes available, and celebrate that internal promotion!
5. TECHNOLOGY
Now, more than ever, companies need technology-driven talent. Technology has always impacted and reshaped the way we conduct business, but with the trend of remote work, the ability to use technology has become critical. Those candidates early in their career with less experienced have begun to overcome the “experience” factor because of their ability to use technology to their advantage. Savvy college hires are now more attractive.
Businesses looking to attract tech-savvy candidates, need to embrace technology themselves. From interview platforms to team meetings, companies who make use of technological advancements will streamline operations and cause the hiring process to proceed quickly and smoothly.
6. ADDING SKILLS TO EXISTING EMPLOYEES
Some of your best talent is already on your roster. As in our 5th recruiting and hiring trend, there are many talented employees that can learn new skills if provided the proper training. Many conferences have gone digital and the opportunities for affordable continuing education is available online. Give employees that have shown loyalty, culture fit, and promise the opportunity to grow and flourish by learning new skills.
7. THE ROLE OF HR IN RECRUITING
The impact of COVID-19 has forced HR departments to re-allocate much more of their time into ensuring their internal employees are safe and work environment-related stresses are addressed. These activities have taken away time traditionally allocated to recruiting outside talent, thus making some companies more open to bringing on an outside recruitment firm as an extension of their team.
We have seen managers need to take on new responsibilities within their own departments especially with monitoring remote employees’ productivity and effectiveness. In some cases, new roles have been created or discussed around these new tasks. HR departments are stressed, and they are taking on many more additional responsibilities outside of their normal realm of service. Meanwhile, the need for top talent is always important and ever-present.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2021
These are just a few of the trends that we see for 2021. In the last year, we have all had to learn to be flexible and adaptable in order to survive, but with most business sectors showing improvement, we are looking forward to the new year.
As always if you have any questions, or if we can help you with your recruiting needs, let us know!
Contact us:
John Salvadore
info@grncoastal.com
508-589-6022
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