In light of this development, here are some tips for optimizing your remote recruiting efforts:
Leverage Remote Work and Strong Employer Branding
A rising number of companies are now practicing or actively considering permanent remote work options for nonessential workers. Large employers like Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Amazon will likely be some of the last to reopen their workplaces, with Google, for example, announcing plans to extend its remote work policy through June 2021. While many organizations are returning to the office, the option to work remotely continues to be a sought-after perk for job seekers.
Now that remote work is more appealing than ever, highlighting this arrangement in your job posting titles, locations, and descriptions can be an effective way to attract applications. (Note: It is important to clearly delineate between permanent and temporary remote work arrangements!) By leveraging remote work opportunities, recruiters can more easily source and engage adaptable, qualified candidates who are interested in this benefit.
According to the 2020 Job Seeker Nation Report, 34 percent of US workers would take a pay cut of up to 5 percent in order to work remotely. Additionally, the study found that 65 percent of job seekers say remote work is “very important” or “somewhat important” in their decision to accept a job offer.
Having the flexibility to work from home isn’t the only thing important to today’s job seekers. Company culture greatly influences their employment decisions as well, and providing a positive employee experience and work environment is a powerful competitive advantage in the current labor market. More than 80 percent of workers say company culture is important in their decision to apply for a job, and 38 percent say they would preemptively reject potential employers due to publicly available reviews, according to the Job Seeker Nation Report. Taking steps to reflect your company culture in your employer branding allows your company to connect with candidates who resonate with your values (and vice versa).
Seek Opportunities for Growth
While the lockdowns caused many companies to slow or halt their recruiting efforts, they have also given many employers a unique opportunity to invest in the growth of their current employees. With conferences and events going virtual, professionals — including recruiters — can learn from experts around the world and further educate themselves on best practices right from their own homes.
Many programs have been created or made more accessible during this time, which has allowed people to attend events they may not have participated in otherwise. For example, we at Jobvite held The Summer to Evolve, a 12-week programming series designed to help recruiters and talent acquisition professionals improve their skills, tactics, and strategies. Whether it means tuning in for a webinar, listening to an expert lecture, or watching a demonstration, recruiters everywhere should be taking this time to seek out ways to improve and emerge from this experience as better, more well-rounded professionals.
Recruiters can also participate in virtual career fairs and hiring events, which allow them to connect with job seekers online. Working within an organization to facilitate or create these events can be a great strategy to use in place of in-person recruiting events.
Not all organizations have paused hiring efforts, and companies like online retailers and healthcare organizations are experiencing urgent hiring needs. Those recruiting for in-demand roles have the potential to reach large quantities of qualified candidates given the current increase in the number of available people searching for employment opportunities. Recruiters should be ready to step up, build valuable networks, and improve their skills...