In the midst
of coronavirus, the world is facing uncertainty in all industries, and
recruiting is no different. How has this global health crisis changed hiring,
and how will talent acquisition recover when this is all over? Here’s how
COVID-19 changed recruiting overnight.
As COVID-19
continues to sweep the nation and the world, businesses are looking for ways to
stay productive in the face of unprecedented challenges. Managing staff
procedures, increasing or decreasing headcount, and maintaining workloads has
become a remote process for many businesses as they look to protect their
workers, their customers and the public.
The pandemic
has shifted a major sector of the workforce in ways we hadn’t anticipated. For
organizations that are able, CDC-recommended social distancing measures have
made remote work the new norm. Staff members are transforming living rooms into
workspaces, often simultaneously managing children and personal obligations.
Businesses are facing difficult decisions about how to adapt and survive this
seismic shift, and hiring practices have changed overnight.
Recruiting trends in the wake of COVID-19
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While some
industries are being decimated by the coronavirus pandemic, like brick and
mortar retailers, others are ramping up hiring to meet demand. Healthcare
providers may be the largest sectors looking to increase staffing levels as
systems prepare for worst-case scenarios already being seen or anticipated.
And as Americans turn to online shopping to reduce virus exposure, delivery drivers, warehousing and distribution are also hiring at scale.
Essential
retailers who remain open during the pandemic, like big box stores, grocers,
pharmacies and chains are hiring at scale to meet demand. In addition to
maintaining staffing levels, many are rapidly increasing headcount to allow for
more downtime or flexible schedules for staff members.
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The travel,
restaurant and hospitality industries are among the most hard-hit by the virus.
From international hotel and restaurant chains, to airlines and the local
family-run restaurant, the pandemic is forcing layoffs around the world.
Some restaurants
are learning to pivot quickly, with curb service and delivery options keeping
them marginally afloat during the outbreak.
For these companies, assessing which staff members are essential or can
be moved into new roles will be key.
For the
hotel industry, the effects of COVID-19 may be far reaching and long-term. Some
industry leaders predict that for those hotels that manage to stay open, five
years will be needed to fully recover. Some suggest that half the airline
industry may be wiped out by the outbreak. The ripple effect of retractions in
travel are impacting a host of other businesses, from huge conglomerates like
Boeing to small manufacturing and service organizations that provide supplies
and service in airports and beyond.
Bars and
entertainment venues are also seeing a huge impact because of the virus.
Considered non-essential, most have shuttered their doors during the outbreak.
For some who served food, pickup may be an option, but for many, businesses are
closed — and highly-vulnerable tipped workers are feeling the crunch. Many of
these may be looking to mass virtual hiring events to substitute income during
the outbreak.
What’s different about recruiting now that COVID-19 is here?
For
organizations looking to hire, reliable technology is already available to
help. Virtual recruitment is a go-to method to keep hiring processes moving
while protecting recruiters and candidates.
The change
may be uncomfortable at first, but talent acquisition professionals are up for
the task. Initial phone screenings remain the same, but the face-to-face
interview has moved online. To speed up time-to-hire, many companies are
offering candidates the option of video interviewing as soon as possible. While
some are waiting until an in-person interview is possible, many fear losing
candidates to a competitor during the wait.
Video
interviewing software not only makes it possible to keep the hiring pipeline
moving, but it also upgrades the candidate experience and boosts your employer
brand. Job seekers recognize that when
organizations put safety protocols in place, they’re putting their employees
first. Whether pre-recorded or live, virtual interviews are highly interactive.
Recruitment professionals can assess gestures, expressions, engagement and body
language as easily online as in person, as can candidates. The handshake, which
may become a thing of the past, may be the only loss in the process.
Technology that’s reliable is key: recruitment professionals new to video interviewing platforms should keep best practices in mind, and test the software before their first meeting with a job seeker.
Guidelines for video interviewing:
- Be as
professional as you would be a normal interview. Be prepared with job
requirements, and know the candidate’s resume and background. Just as you’d
send an intro email with directions to the office and parking instructions,
send details on how to access and best prepare for the video interview. Don’t
assume that sending a link is sufficient.
- Remember
time zones. Assure the invitation to the interview is adjusted for any
differences for areas of the country or the world.
- Presentation
is key. Make sure you’re prepared for the video interview by dressing the part, choosing a good
background and eliminating distractions from your surroundings.
Virtual recruiting is the new normal
As business
moves to online interviews, they reap many benefits beyond safety for their
recruiters and job seekers — and this may be the kick many companies needed to
augment their existing strategies with a virtual component.
Gen Z job
seekers appreciate tech savvy organizations. Recent data suggests they will not
even apply for a job with an organization if they think its recruitment methods
are outdated. Businesses looking for top talent, even during this pandemic,
will need to assure their brand messages cutting edge technology.
Video
recruitment is a must-have for companies even in optimal hiring conditions.
Individual recruiters and teams leverage the ability to interview essentially
on-demand, without juggling interview scheduling. And those who are already
using recruitment technology are more likely to speed up time-to-hire —pandemic
or not.
Other workplace shifts that may become long-term
Remote work
Remote work
may have been on employee wish-lists long before COVID-19, but many
organizations are finding the option not only workable, but beneficial. As the
virus diminishes, some suggest a permanent shift toward working from home may
be in the cards. Recent data shows 60% of workers are confident they can
perform their job efficiently remotely, even indefinitely.
Employee rights
A new
appreciation for workers may also be emerging: as the government mandates paid
sick and family leave during the outbreak, many companies are shifting their
focus to hourly workers, formerly excluded from such perks. State and local
governments have been developing sick leave insurance and coverage for hourly
workers; the virus may accelerate spread of these laws and policies. This
change may become permanent, as organizations work hard to hire new staff and
increase retention rates in the face of completion once Americans get fully
back to work.As business continues to meet demand and maintain productivity
during these difficult times, there are many resources available to help
navigate the changes COVID-19 is requiring. Companies will need to leverage
every option available to keep their workforce, their partners and their
customers as safe as possible.