... but, as Ian Moore of HR Consultancy Lodge Court, writes, technology can make recruiting so much easier.
Recruiting is an essential business process, but it can be time-consuming and challenging. I’m sure you’re acutely aware of the frustrations that come with trying to find qualified candidates in an already crowded job market. But what if there was a way you could make the recruiting process easier? What if technology could help you streamline it, saving both time and money? Fortunately, there are many ways that current technologies can improve upon traditional recruiting methods to make hiring easier than ever before. In this article, I'll look at how modern technology can revolutionise recruiting for your business.
First, let's look with fine-tuning the roles that you're looking to fill. Technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) can help you create precise job descriptions that target the exact skills and qualifications required for specific roles. This will enable you to focus on recruiting only those candidates who possess the right combination of attributes, making it easier to find suitable people.
And what about forecasting the skills you'll need in the future so as to fill gaps before they even occur? One way to do this is by leveraging predictive analytics. By understanding the trends in your business and industry, you can anticipate future skills needs, giving you the ability to plan ahead.
Once you’ve determined the criteria for your positions, technology can also be used to identify potential applicants with the right skills.
For example, social media is a great way to identify senior candidates you may want to poach. Platforms such as LinkedIn are becoming increasingly popular for finding qualified professionals. With their powerful search tools and ability to target specific types of people, you can quickly find new talent for your business.
Online recruitment platforms can also make it easier to find suitable candidates quickly and efficiently because they often contain huge searchable databases of candidates who are looking for positions in your industry or field. Then, through data mining and analysis, employers can quickly create a shortlist of potential candidates for their positions in much less time than is normally required.
Finally, there are automated job boards. Although these have been around for a while, they’re now becoming even more sophisticated – allowing employers to post jobs, track applicants, and even conduct interviews without ever leaving their desk.
Technology can also help you improve the interview experience for both recruiters and candidates. Scheduling tools can enable candidates to book their own interview times with you and then applications like video interviewing tools allow you to conduct interviews without having to bring candidates into the office. This improves flexibility and reduces costs, while still giving you an accurate assessment of a candidate’s skills.
And, instead of holding several rounds of interviews, you can use technology at certain stages to run personality assessments and behavioural tests to ensure that candidates are a good fit for the roles they’re applying for.
Recruitment software can even automate tasks like background checks and reference checks, saving you crucial time.
So we've discussed how you FIND the best candidate but what about how you get them to agree to join you? There is a lot of competition at the moment and candidates may have several lucrative offers from potential employers. A slick recruitment process, as outlined above, will definitely help you stand out from the crowd but you can also use technology to create an offer package that appeals directly to your target audience.
How? Social media and job boards will show you package details that are trending so that you can build an understanding of what candidates are looking for in a job and a company. For example, despite the cost of living crisis, money is not the biggest reason people choose a job. Often it's flexibility.
Offering employees the option to work remotely can have powerful benefits for any organisation, but only if the technology is good enough. Investing in the right tech tools and equipment for remote workers can make it easier for employees to work from home, increasing satisfaction and retention rates.
Another benefit to working for you could be the training you offer. From courses in coding and professional certifications, to self-improvement tutorials and language learning software, online training resources are offering an impressive library of material for anyone interested in personal or career development. What’s more, certain providers allow users access to free or discounted classes, making it a cost-effective way for businesses to equip their staff with sought-after skills.
In conclusion, the potential of technology within recruitment is huge. By taking advantage of the right tools, you can streamline your hiring process, increase efficiency, target better candidates, and offer more competitive packages. Embracing technology is the key to finding the best talent for your business.