With the emergence of smart phones, apps, cloud-based computing and social networking over the past decade, the modern workforce has changed dramatically. This means that we’ve also seen big changes in the way that businesses recruit and retain their team members. While advertising vacancies, resumes and job interviews are far from becoming obsolete, the way you promote positions and screen applicants may be outdated. Below you’ll find five of the biggest changes in human resources and recruitment that are trending this year and what it means for your organisation.
1. The Millennial Workforce Is Here
People aged 18-34 years are generally considered to be ‘Gen Y’ or the ‘Millennial’ and they’re no longer the workforce of the future – they’re who you’ll be recruiting right now. These people are less likely than ever to turn to newspaper ads and come with high expectations for company culture.
2. Social Media Matters
This is not about ‘Facebook stalking’ potential staff members but more about ensuring that your company is actively using social media to attract and recruit staff members. While LinkedIn is the professional platform, you may need to consider advertising or posting jobs on your Facebook profile as well.
3. You Need To Sell The Why
Recruiters have noticed a growing trend whereby applicants want to know what is really in it for them if they consider a particular position or company. It goes beyond the weekly wage – people want to know if they’ll be able to achieve their goals with you and what kind of non-monetary benefits they stand to get.
4. Skills Are Secondary to Fit
In today’s world, employers and recruiters understand that in most cases, anyone can learn how to do a job. To ensure that businesses are attracting long-term employees, they are focusing more on ensuring that they find the right cultural fit even if it means choosing a less experienced candidate in favour for someone who has the right personality and work style for the organisation.
5. Working with Freelancers and Consultants Will Become the Norm
While most businesses will always have a permanent team, it is likely that you will turn to outsourcing for some functions. There is now a plethora of qualified, experienced and sometimes even local people who freelance and consult remotely, communicating with clients via the internet.
[ALSO READ: 5 Resources To Start And Run Your Own Freelance Business]These are just the start of the changes we’ll start to see in the recruiting world over the next couple of years. If you aren’t already working with a human resources partner like the Chandler Macleod group or a similar reputable company, it might be time to make an appointment. More than ever, working with a HR Consulting firm can help make sure you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and are engaging industry best practices for employee attraction and retention.
Have you noticed any of these trends when you’ve been recruiting? What is your company doing to help ensure that you are able to attract and retain quality candidates in the digital age?
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