WHY YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOUR HIRING STRATEGY FOR 2021
The new World of Work has compelled companies to take a fresh look at the way they do just about everything. And in the course of making necessary adjustments, they’ve come away with insights that will prevail well after the crisis has passed. From how they schedule meetings and manage teams to how they fill open positions and promote their culture, they are adjusting to the demands of the hybrid workforce.
The year 2021 is forecasted to be a pivotal year as the pandemic loosens its grip on society. It’s leaving in its wake a huge change environment for hiring employees and for onboarding new staff. Bert Miller the President and CEO of MRINETWORK provides some great insight on the new World of Work and steps that can be taken to improve hiring in 2021.
“Remote working on a large scale and the evolving hybrid workplace is uncharted territory for most companies,” says Bert Miller, President and CEO of MRI. “But we are already seeing signs that business leaders are learning from the experience and pivoting in the direction of strategies that will successfully move them forward.”
Miller outlines four ways leaders can optimize their talent attraction and retention strategies for the new World of Work:
Clarify Job Descriptions
Job seekers are looking for security and safety, which often translates into work-from-home opportunities. “When you’re writing a job spec now,” says Miller, “the scope of telecommuting should be clearly outlined. Whether you’re looking for people to fill remote, hybrid, or in-office roles, be clear from the first touchpoint. Communicate expectations for the position and outline what you’re doing to keep your team safe and supported. You’ll build trust in the company and increase the likelihood that strong candidates follow through with the entire recruitment process.”
Update Priority Skill Sets
Recruiters and hiring managers are already closely monitoring the traits in employees that will determine long-term hybrid success — but those key traits are shifting as the World of Work moves increasingly online. “You need people who can communicate well and maintain a team approach even when they’re not able to be together in a communal setting,” explains Miller. Remote working requires discipline and a proactive, self-motivated approach — something all workers don’t necessarily possess. When reviewing candidate resumes, Miller suggests that it can be helpful to determine if candidates have worked remotely in the past, perhaps on interim assignments, and how successful they were in those situations.
Implement Digital Hiring Practices
As companies look to fill open positions, recruiters and hiring managers are turning to digital hiring tools to make the most effective decisions, including programs used to facilitate pre-hire assignments and virtual interviews. “Digital, remote-ready recruitment and candidate screening tools were in use before the pandemic, but now they can help you even more effectively seek out and engage talent,” says Miller. “Properly applied, they can also cut down on time-to-hire and encourage enduring employee satisfaction.” He points out that digital hiring and remote work eliminate geographic restrictions, giving companies access to a larger and more diverse talent pool than ever before.
Identify Reskilling Opportunities
The pandemic has accelerated the need for employees to undergo reskilling in order to meet the demands of our new World of Work. “It’s up to leaders to help their hybrid employees adopt the technologies they need to drive productivity by prioritizing their reskilling efforts,” says Miller. These may include company-wide training sessions on specific tools, individually selected courses, or one-on-one mentoring. There’s an added responsibility for managers to pay close attention to how their people are faring, including from a professional development standpoint, and to anticipate their needs before problems arise.
Flexibility and resilience are paramount in adapting to change. The companies that not only adapt to the new World of Work but also learn from it and improve upon their old ways of doing things are the ones that will survive, prosper, and grow.
As we began this year I decided to create some tools for our client base to help them navigate this fiercely competitive market. The Furniture industry saw a large surge in sales during 2020 as the country emerged in April and May from the shutdown due to pent-up demand and the so-called “homebody” economy.
In a nutshell, we feel optimistic about 2021 and we believe that we will see a continued fierce competition among employers who want to hire and, more importantly, retain the best talent at their organizations.
I thought I would begin 2021 and provide my clients with a fresh look at some front-line Hiring Tips.
Tip #1 begins with ideas for improving your Career web page on your website. Given the sharp demographic shift in our industry towards young professionals we wanted to emphasize the importance of speaking to them and engaging them with clarity and purpose.
Download the full list here: 21 Tips for 2021
So there you have it...some ideas for improving your hiring process and sharpening your recruitment strategy and tactics. Wishing you all the best as we finish Q1 and head towards what most view as a robust jobs and business outlook. The forecast calls for the building of continued momentum for the remainder of the year.
Credits: (January 2021 - MRINetwork - Employment Trends)
Bill O’Malley is President of Connector Team Recruiting a firm headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia specializing in the Furniture | Appliance and Sleep verticals. Connector Team is an affiliate office of MRINETWORK, Philadelphia, PA. Connector Team is a full service Search Firm offering permanent placement recruiting and interim staffing solutions.
Feel free to contact Bill at bill@connectorteamrecruiting.com.