It’s that time of year again. Time to regret your holiday calorie intake and to ignore your credit card bill as long as possible. It’s also time to get ready for the New Year’s hiring rush.
Are you ready? Unfortunately, we can’t help your waistline or your finances. But we can give you some advice for the busiest hiring season.
Traditionally, January and February represent the most active time of the year for recruiting. Of course, 2021 has little chance of being a traditional year. Coming off the hardships of 2020, the new year promises another 12 months of turbulence and uncertainty.
We know how you feel. Those sentiments don’t exactly strike a jolly note to lead into January. But there are ways to prepare. By setting a strong hiring strategy for the new year, you can weather whatever 2021 has to offer.
With all that in mind, it’s time to get ready for the busiest hiring season of the year…in a year when the rules of hiring have changed. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Remote Remains Crucial
The spread of COVID-19 made remote work the new normal for millions of American workers. With the pandemic still disrupting the economy, this trend will likely continue in 2021. You’ll have to rely heavily on remote interviewing to inform your hiring decisions. And once you choose a new employee, they will likely spend much of their time outside the office.
Improve your remote interviewing and managing skills. That way, you’ll be prepared for the current market.
Upgrade Your Tech Reliance
The accelerated rise of remote working has led to an aggressive push for new technological tools. Businesses have come to rely heavily on communication services, like Slack and Zoom. At the same time, companies have implemented productivity software to keep processes organized with employees now scattered to multiple locations.
In the new year, keep your tech backbone up to date. Research the industry standard and make sure you have the best support infrastructure in place. You’ll need this technology both for the hiring process and for managing your workforce over the long haul.
Value Self-Starters
COVID has wreaked havoc on traditional lines of supervision. Organizations don’t have the same close scrutiny they once had over the moment-to-moment details of production. With many employees working remotely, new skills have become crucial to maintaining a productive schedule.
Foremost of these: a self-starting attitude. Workers who can organize and motivate themselves have become critical contributors in a remote world. Seek out these potential superstars. Move these skills up your “must-have” list as you interview fresh candidates.
Rethink the Perks You Offer
Remember those fawning news stories about the Google campus? They gushed over the massages, the unique food choices, and the napping pods. Now, Google’s employees are working for home, at least for the foreseeable future.
Of course, not every organization went all out like Google. But most companies offered some in-office amenities, from free snacks to video games. In the current environment, these have become irrelevant.
As a result, you’ll have to change your approach to attracting recruits. Since your work environment no longer matters, you’ll have to come up with other perks. Consider new incentives that appeal to a remote workforce, things like DoorDash or UberEats credits. This way, you can compete for top talent in a changing environment.
Increase Flexibility
Whatever recruiting strategy you devise for 2021, keep your options open. Think back to January of 2020, when you were preparing for the year ahead. How well did that plan work out? Through no fault of your own, those early-2020 expectations were torn to pieces by the spread of COVID.
The same thing might happen again in 2021. Whatever the outlook now, things could change quickly. You need to react to an evolving situation. As such, plan for flexibility. Have contingency plans in place and anticipate possible alterations. That way, you’ll be ready for anything.
Contact Recruiting In Motion today to learn more.
A firm partnership with a strong staffing agency should be part of this strategy. A top-notch recruiter, like Recruiting In Motion, can ensure that your staffing plan is as flexible as possible, letting you take advantage of whatever 2021 has to offer.
