Over the last couple of years in face of the pandemic, the landscape of recruiting as we know it has shifted significantly.
Not only has the hiring and onboarding process changed for employers. But so have the expectations and requirements of top talent when looking for a new role.
As recruiters, hiring managers and business owners, it’s essential that we appreciate how the face of recruitment has evolved during this time and how we too can evolve our methods throughout 2022 and beyond.
Are Video Meetings & Video Interviews Here to Stay?
Love them or hate them, virtual meetings and interviews are definitely here to stay!
Video conferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Skype and Zoom have become extremely well-recognised household terms. So much so, that they’re now commonly used as verbs… “Can we Zoom later?” We all saw how quickly Zoom quizzes escalated throughout lockdown #1! *shudders*
Particularly in the workplace, employers and employees alike are reaping the benefits of operating over video calls. In fact, a recent study shows that more than 350 million people ‘Zoom’ on a daily basis.
What Are the Advantages of Video Interviews?
The most obvious benefit of video interviews and meetings has to be their practicality. You can video conference with somebody no matter where you both are in the world. And don’t need to worry about travel time, location, (or even getting fully dressed!).
A key benefit of the switch to virtual meetings is that the speed of hiring has significantly improved. It has now become one of the most cost-effective methods of recruiting, saving money, time and resources for businesses.
The ease with which video interviews can be conducted, alongside that extra bit of time on your hands, we’ve seen exactly how recruitment processes are now more structured and comprehensive.
A clear, structured, and in-depth hiring process across the board instils greater confidence in your company from prospective employees, can really help step up your EDI processes, and can help you attract and retain talent.
Are There Any Disadvantages of Video Interviews?
For both hiring managers and candidates, not meeting face-to-face can have its disadvantages.
First of all, some people struggle to give off a good first impression when they’re unable to initiate that first handshake with the interviewer, or let them see their bubbly or confident character up close.
For a customer-facing sales and marketing role, for example, desired skills such as being able to interact with people are slightly harder to convey in a virtual setting.
Secondly, it can sometimes be difficult for candidates to get a good ‘feel’ for a company and the company’s culture without seeing the office and other employees.
Throughout 2022 and beyond, a company’s online branding will be more crucial than ever in communicating your company’s culture and in attracting the right talent.
How Can Managers Change Their Approach to Hiring?
In a candidate-driven market, fluidity in your approach to recruitment is potentially the most important thing you should discover throughout 2022.
Here are a few points to consider when hiring:
- Exactly what candidates are looking for in a job role has completely changed. It’s not enough now to simply offer a ‘competitive salary’ and a ‘great pension scheme’. Candidates are looking for sustainability, flexible working, and a strong company brand.
- Think about culture add in addition to just measuring an individual’s ‘skills’. Decide what truly makes a great employee. With these qualities in mind, you could incorporate personality assessments into your hiring process to really get a better feel for an employee’s job fit.
- Eliminate bias through the recruiting process. Ensure that your hiring processes are fair and standardised right the way through. From sifting through CV’s. to interviewing and making an offer.
How Should Managers Change Their Approach to Onboarding?
The pivot to remote working has also altered the onboarding process. Training new employees virtually can be difficult to get your head around initially. And it will require new skills, processes, and expectations.
However, with good preparation – you can provide your employees with e-learning resources and video meetings that will be just as effective for the both of you.
Providing frequent collaboration channels between new employees and existing employees is also crucial in helping new starters to learn more, make the onboarding process enjoyable – and most importantly, to create an inclusive, virtual community.
Being a recruitment agency in Sheffield, we know our stuff when it comes to recruiting. For any further help or advice on the hiring or onboarding process in 2022, please get in touch.
