COVID changed the way many people look at their jobs and what they expect from their employers. A recent report based on a Hireology survey of more than 4,400 job seekers found some common characteristics among them. Understanding these characteristics can assist you in your recruiting efforts, especially with skilled workers.
Despite what you may be hearing, today’s workers are eager to work; in fact, they expect near-immediate response once they apply for a job. The survey found that nearly one-third of survey respondents expected to be interviewed within 48 hours of applying for a job. It is interesting to note that people are applying for multiple jobs at the same time—on average 11 jobs—and 61% said they accept the first offer they receive. If your hiring process is taking too long, you might miss out on great candidates. Reduce the time between application, interview, and job offer.
The survey also found that while salary is important, potential employees also look for other things, such as flexibility, career growth, fulfilling work, and good working conditions. “When presented with two options in a similar pay range, 91% of respondents said they would be open to taking the lower-paying option if the right benefits were offered,” the report said.
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Potential employees are turning to company websites to determine corporate culture, the report said. Make sure that your website reflects the core values of your company and accurately presents your company.
Another finding of the report was that people applying for jobs expect the application process to be easy, and many will not complete an application that is too complicated. Review your application, and make sure it can be completed quickly. More than half of the survey respondents said they would not spend more than 30 minutes filling out an application. Additionally, 63% said they chose not to apply for a job because the application required them to repeat information that was already on their resume. Keep that in mind when developing your application form.
People looking for jobs today are using their smartphones or tablets, so make sure your applications are mobile-friendly.
Communication throughout the hiring process is also important to today’s job seekers. Hireology suggests that you communicate with applicants you are interested in at least every other day. The communication can just be a quick update about next steps or developments in the hiring process. Texting is an acceptable way to communicate with job candidates throughout the hiring process.
Finding the right candidate for the job is only part of the process. Once you find them, you need to retain them. Believe it or not, the onboarding process plays a role in retention, according to Hireology. Onboarding includes welcoming employees, initial training, and integrating them into your company.
Make sure to align your hiring practices with the wants and needs of todays’ job applicants to increase your chance of finding the ideal person for your job.
Jane Clark is vice president of member services for NationaLease. In this position, she is focused on managing the member services operation as well as working to strengthen member relationships, reduce member costs, and improve collaboration within the NationaLease supporting groups. Prior to joining NationaLease, Clark served as area vice president for Randstad, one of the nation's largest recruitment agencies, and before that, she served in management posts with QPS Cos., Pro Staff, and Manpower Inc.
