5 Ways the Covid-19 Pandemic is Transforming Hiring and Recruitment

Australia has once again entered an economic recession due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The last time it faced a major labor market shock was during the Great Depression. With the government strictly implementing lockdowns to comply with health and safety protocols, local companies are thinking about how they can recover from the Covid-19 crisis. Thousands of people have lost their jobs since May of 2020, significantly bringing up the unemployment rate of the country.

Recruitment Agency Northern Beaches owner Chris Day thinks there is light at the end of the tunnel coming into the second half of 2021 following announcements from the Australian Government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison gave Australians hope by sharing, “These are our dark times, but I can see that ray of light, and I’m sure Australians can see that”. Despite the bleak economic outlook due to pessimism in the job market, the government is helping the nation get back on its feet with the recent rollout of Covid-19 vaccines and wage subsidy campaigns.

How has Covid-19 changed the way businesses recruit and hire talent?

Companies may experience slow growth because of economic uncertainty, but there will always be a job position to fill at some point. It is up to them to adapt their hiring process to fit the current situation. This is how more recruitment teams are adjusting to the new normal.

The video or virtual interview

Businesses were forced to incorporate virtual interviews in their recruitment processes since the pandemic started. It can be difficult for the recruitment team to sort through multiple video interviews and find the best candidates for the job (especially since people have conducted face-to-face interviews for decades), but there will be no chance for the interviewer and applicant to get infected by Covid, and both parties can save money and time.

In most cases, firms are now realizing that virtual interviews are the ideal, more efficient option for the hiring process in the new normal.

The talent pool is not longer restricted by location

More firms are relocating some or all of their operations over the internet, proving that most business transactions (including recruiting talent) are not limited by physical location anymore. Previous searches for the best applicant for the job were limited by relocation budgets or geography, but companies can now tap into a huge pool of talent.

The demand for candidates and technology industries is increasing

More businesses are doing what they can to retain young, top talents who like life in the fast lane. They understand that more professionals are searching for job security during the pandemic, and they could lose these people to more established firms.

Aside from this, more professionals prefer to apply in technology careers instead of conventional industries because they believe that going digital is the wave of the future.

Businesses must improve on how they sell themselves during the recruitment process

Traditionally, companies must always sell themselves to attract the best candidates, but their ability to convince new applicants to join them in the new normal will be given more significance. As the economy starts to recover and grow again, people now have more options for employment based on their current situations, whether they will work in an office or do freelancing. For example, if an organization wants a freelancer who prefers to work remotely to join them full-time, they should provide a work-from-home option or risk getting rejected instantly.

Material perks cannot replace actual company culture

Years ago, businesses in Northern Beaches would cultivate good company culture and values inside a physical office with amenities like a game room and a stocked pantry. Now that more companies are embracing remote work during the pandemic, the concrete workplace is not as important as it once was. It is the responsibility of the organization to virtually uphold the company culture they want the employees to follow.

Professionals may be happy with competitive compensation and bonuses, but they still want that sense of working for a company with a purpose. They want to be recognized for their efforts so they feel that what they are doing has meaning. If the organization cannot provide these non-monetary benefits, they will leave and look for a workplace with the same values they have.

Is your hiring and recruitment process ready for the new normal?

The Coronavirus shut down borders, interrupted economies, and forever altered the landscape of our lives. This global pandemic was sure to force businesses to change the ways they recruit, employ, and retain talented individuals. Companies that will adapt to the new normal and use it as motivation to grow will certainly be successful.