4 Recruitment trends in a remote era - A world of talent is here stay

Unit4 Human Capital Management (HCM), Global

from Unit4 Communications May 18, 2021 | 4 min read

Remote working is going nowhere. According to LinkedIn: “70% of talent professionals say virtual recruiting will become the new standard.”

And when it comes to recruitment, we’re only at the beginning, as most companies have been so busy adjusting to remote working, they’ve not discovered the literal world of talent it opens up for them.

What recruitment trends matter?

So as recruiters, you need to prepare for the shift from in-person to virtual and from local to global. It’s different languages, cultures, and expectations. And to secure the best talent, you need to be able to communicate with the world of candidates out there.

While many trends are rising in this new world, we’re looking at four that we believe will help you refocus and stand apart from other recruiters, all chasing the same talent.

Inspiring hiring

Finding ways to stand out from the crowd will become essential, whether that’s clever tech or truly engaging messaging. You can’t just pump out the same old ads as before.

The keys to this new world of talent will come from how recruiters embrace these new ways of working. According to a study by Talview, “80% of respondents said their interviewing and hiring process is now fully remote.”

While a survey from Cielo found that ;“67% of businesses have successfully interviewed, offered and onboarded virtually.” Which is a significant change in just a year. But regardless of how high these numbers are, for some, they are still not high enough.

Only 100% will do for these companies, giving them unlimited access to the best people and best technologies worldwide. So, it’s time to reimagine how you attract and retain talent.

Divest and diversify

The truth was, no matter where your office was, the best talent was never always local. And this static approach also impacts how diverse you can be. The good news is that remote working can change that.

In fact, with remote working, there’s no excuse anymore. Diversity will be what makes companies leaders, as it will highlight, they’ve put talent first. And it’s down to recruiters to lead the charge for diversity, which can only be a good thing.

The tech challenge

Up until 2020, when it came to remote working, tech was always kind ahead of the game, with only the bravest of companies on the cutting edge of talent management software. But times have changed. To keep up with all this new demand, tech companies will have to innovate harder and faster the ever.

To stay one step ahead as recruiters, you’re going to need to find new and innovative ways to attract, retain and satisfy talent. But what does that look like? Talview’s study mentioned above found that many recruiters plan to increase their use of remote hiring tools like:

39% Video Interviewing
13% Online Technical Skills Assessments
12% Online Soft Skills Assessments
44% Interview Coaching & Analytics Tools
94% Virtual Event Platforms

For the more forward-thinking companies, the next step is to use this technology for other areas of the recruitment cycle. Delivering better onboarding, HR, and work experiences for all new hires and beyond.

Some are already there, delivering experiences that they can replicate across a global model. Opening up and a world of talent precisely when they need it most.

We’ve gone fully remote (whilst it’s all happening) … and now I realise I have access to worldwide talent no matter their location.

Carrie Rose

CEO at Rise at Seven, Remoters

More information

New work models

One challenge recent events have brought to recruiters is the uncertainty around the work model you use. Many organizations in 2021 are still assessing what work looks like, and the concept of traditional office hours is in flux.

So now companies are introducing or trialing new models like “hub and spoke” approaches with fully remote workforces and fixed central meeting points. Or flexible hybrids, where offices exist in different contexts, and people use them as they see fit. And the reality is, some will ultimately return to their original way of working. It’s about finding what works.

For recruiters, the challenge is, what you’re selling is work. The uncertainty here leads to uncertainty in those you are talking to. And that will mean missing out on the people you need. So it’s down to you to be a part of the discussion and always know the current plan.

The next steps

So with all these new trends and initiatives, what’s standing in the way of a remote working world? Simple, outdated thinking.

According to Talview’s survey, the only real obstacle standing in the way of a genuinely remote world are people still thinking:

In-person workers are more effective (38%), and
Local candidates are preferable (36%).

Admittedly, this thinking is now in the minority, but as recruiters, it holds you back. And all the evidence points to it being wrong. In our remote world, productivity is up, and anywhere is the new local.

But it’s something many recruiters will have to combat as it’s up to you to find the best candidates, not the most convenient. And technology, like Talent management software, will be vital in making the case and teaching everyone, including candidates, the real value of remote working.