It’s not a matter of “if” you’re going to change your recruiting practices, it’s a matter of “when.” It’s inevitable, and a matter of fact, companies will be changing the way they recruit and hire employees. If you don’t already know, let me explain a few facts that lead to this conclusion:
- Millennial/Generation Y is the largest generation in history.
- Within the next 5 years over 75M will be in the job market.
- There will be an abundance of workers applying for jobs and they will have a set of expectations that is totally different than today.
The self-awareness and communication skills of the millennial generation are very different than for previous generations. And their expectations of what they are looking for in an employer is different as well.
This is what date night looks like.
And here is coffee with friends.
And a trip to the museum.
Albert Einstein once said “I fear the day technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” Well this may be a little harsh but it is something we must pay attention to. So, what does this all mean for recruiting and hiring?
Recommendations
- Treat the candidate like a customer versus an “applicant.” The Applicant Tracking Systems out there today benefit the organization and the recruiter, not the candidates. Companies need to start catering to the needs of their candidates over the needs of the recruiters. Simply making the recruiter’s job easier will not work.
- Interactivity and communication throughout the hiring process is key. To many processes leave the candidate in limbo. When people send text messages to their friends they expect answers back right away. To be left not knowing whether there is a match (in a very timely manner) will not be acceptable to candidates any more.
- Text is old and outdated – video is King. As with the mainstream Internet tomorrow’s candidates are used to seeing video for everything they do. The job application and hiring process will be no different. Those companies that use video applications and video assessments will have the upper hand.
- Short steps in the process versus one long application is a must. The Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) process of registering, filling out a lengthy application and then taking an assessment, all before hearing whether there is a potential fit will no longer fly. The better way to manage this process is to use a system that guides the candidate in an easy to follow manner while creating a sense of ease all while allowing the candidate to pull themselves out of the process if it isn’t a good fit or for the company to use the outcome as a means of shortlisting the candidate.
- Creating and communicating your employee value proposition early in the recruiting process goes a long way. Tomorrow’s applicants will care less about pay and more about a company that aligns with their own values. They will have choices and those companies that can show and prove they have a mission statement and values that align with the candidate’s will win the battle.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the changes coming across the board. There will be many more changes that need to be made, but the companies that move and adapt the quickest will win tomorrow’s war for talent. Those companies that see change as “turning a battleship” will be behind the times very quickly, and will clearly lose the battle.
For more on these topics see our resource on Best Hiring Practices or don’t hesitate to contact us.
Related Blog Post: What Does a Pre-Employment Assessment Measure?
