As the U.S. and global economies are headed towards an uncertain future, it is especially important to stay on top of current hiring trends to ensure a successful hiring strategy.

Though the hiring landscape is always changing, there are additional factors to consider now, and as a result, there is more pressure on staffing agencies and employers when sourcing top talent.

Staffing agencies and employers need to adapt to the changing market. In this article, we take you through trends that may help you gain insight into how to maximize your efforts when searching for top talent. 

  1. Working Hours Have Changed: The traditional 9-5 working hours are gone. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing purposes, more people are working from home than ever before. Because people have got used to working from home, they now want more flexibility. By working part-time or on a contract basis, they are able to balance their personal and professional lives more effectively. This shift may cause a change in your hiring efforts. If you’re finding it difficult to hire full-time employees, it may be worth looking for gig workers instead of full-time employees. Additionally, there is also little job security in today’s economy so hiring for contract positions is a win-win situation for staffing agencies and for those looking for flexibility at their jobs.
  2. Use Your Data: We cannot say this enough but data-driven recruitment is a game-changer. With more pressure to hire the right people, both cost and time-effectively, many organizations have turned to data to help them make smarter hiring decisions; and avoid unconscious bias. By looking at key metrics, you can start to gather and analyze your data in order to make sense of the information in front of you. If you need help figuring out the type of data you need or should track, feel free to reach out to Chameleone’s data division via [email protected] and we can help capture the metrics that will help you further your business. Types of metrics could include how long it takes for people to complete your application forms, how many clicks on your job adverts convert to applications, how long it takes for your offers to be expected, how much ROI you’re getting on your recruitment tools and so on. The purpose of having all this information is that you can then make informed decisions, save time and money, and of course, make sure you’re making quality hires.
  3. Better The Candidate Experience: People are more likely to accept your offers if they have a positive candidate experience. Candidates hold the power in the job market and while this may change as unemployment rates soar, the overall candidate experience still matters. Additionally, it’s important to note that as there are more avenues for candidates to air their opinions online more than ever before, ensuring that your reputation for hiring candidates and matching them to clients remains positive is vital. People aren’t afraid to share their negative experiences which could lead to other candidates being put off by your company and subsequently your job postings and offers. Think about your candidate experience through the eyes of the candidate. What would they want? What information do they need? What would make them apply? How can you build a relationship with them? Always remember to keep them up to date throughout the hiring process and don’t wait too long to offer the job. Not only will this speed up your hiring process but also improve their experience; it’s a win-win.
  4. AI and Machine Learning: As you well know, machine learning and AI has become a big deal in recent years as more tedious and menial tasks have been taken over by automation processes. User experiences have improved and there are multiple ways in which staffing firms can take advantage of these automated solutions to help further business. For instance, machine learning can help improve the relevancy of job matches for candidates which can ultimately drive more applications to your clients or can help you with your hiring practices by screening resumes. By investing in machine learning and AI, you can grow your business, speed up processes, and focus more on important things like personal connections and relationships. It opens doors and allows you to be efficient. Streamline your processes and make it a whole lot smoother for candidates as well as your clients to work with you.