Latest Recruiting trends for 2021
With the state of the recruiting marketplace returning to a somewhat normal state, trends have started to form in hybrid and remote working environments. The current trends are completely different than ones in years past when work was primarily done face to face.
With the outcry of different industries in response to the pandemic, we will be a part of history that will look back on the current states of industries and wonder what we could have done differently. Although hindsight is always 20-20, we are better to look ahead and try to forge a better future with what information we now have.
For recruiters, we’ve decided to list some trends that might help you in the coming months. With insight from forecasts and professionals, here are some of the recruiting trends to follow:
Remote Work with Technology
For one thing, technology has helped shape everything throughout the pandemic. Much of this year’s economy will depend on the use of technology. For remote workers using video calling, and everything from shopping to entertainment being done easily from home now. In an ever changing technologically advanced world, recruiters will seemingly rely on this technology too.
Many professionals and sectors have posited that innovative technologies have posed threats to their roles, however according to Northeastern University, 54% of HR recruiters see innovative technology as an opportunity.
This also comes as no surprise that as businesses allow workers to come back into the office, many workers want to have an option in the future to work remotely. Through a flurry of LinkedIn posts, many people have taken to straw polls to measure how many people would like to work in which situation. There is much to learn about remote work, as many companies have also denied options for remote work due to the lack of productivity.
The future of technology will play a big role in how recruiting and many other industries will continue to operate. With current options, it is made possible - it has just been made a new normal of sorts.
E-Presenteeism
Before writing this, I had never heard of this before. However, in this finding, many remote workers are feeling the effects of burnout. A common phenomenon that happens when someone is overworked during a week, month or even year if dragged on.
With the birth of remote work situations, many feel obligated to stay online longer and be present whenever they can be. The original finding suggested that four in five HR managers think that working remotely is encouraging this behavior.
In order to prove to their supervisors that they are hard working and worthy of a job, they feel that being online as much as possible is the right answer. However, this can lead to tumultuous effects on a person's wellbeing. This runs into the territory of work-life balance, and how to properly maintain it. With the new work environments most people have been forced into, it is a big adjustment. Moving forward, this is something many employers and recruiting agencies have faced as a hurdle.
This opens the door for the conversation into employee mental health checks. In 2021, we’re seeing a rise in employee well being apps, surveys and training. With some of the apps including Calm, Headspace and Balance - many companies are taking advantage of these as a way to create a healthy work environment.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
One of the biggest trends that corporate recruiters and organizations are aiming for is more DE & I. Or, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Many employees are likely to value this diversity in the workplace and welcomes innovation and novel ideas. With many initiatives to meet, many are making changes to meet standards set by other companies.
Recruiters and recruiting managers are the keys to making these changes happen. Being a part of the hiring process and funnel, this is where the trend is made.
Workplace Analytics
With the increase in digital tools, recruiters will have a plethora of data to use. To measure success, often it is the job of this data and analytics to tell you whether you or your team met certain benchmarks. This is also helping people plan for the future, especially in the case of a hectic year in the industry.
Keeping track of your recruiting data can be made really simple with the help of a recruiting software. These applicant tracking systems not only keep track of your pipelines, but many can house your KPI’s to keep you on top of your candidate pipelines each quarter.
Using this informative data year over year can help you decide strategy. What worked and what didn’t work can depend on the ratios that you can obtain through your recruiting software program.
Employee Engagement and Retention
For many workers trying to find new places of work mid-pandemic, this can be a hard transition. With no physical space to actually go to, on top of new tasks to take on with people you hardly know? It’s no wonder that many employees are in danger of feeling isolated, disconnected and bored.
Some ways that recruiters and other companies are keeping employees engaged is with virtual meetups, events and gamification. With happy hour hangouts, trivia lunch hours or even the occasional professional competition - this can help keep employees engaged.
Gamification is also another tactic that companies are using to keep hires more productive. By turning professional work matters into a game or point based system, it has helped increase the productivity of these employees and keep them from getting bored.
Conclusion
As some of the big key trends for hiring in 2021, these are sure to keep you in the know as to what is going on and where things are headed. With the amount of change, there is sure to be some return to normalcy eventually. Whether it is the old normal, the new normal or a mix of both - it has taken a lot of adjustment for many. As we move forward, we look to the future with hope and courage for positive changes and trends.
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