The coronavirus has derailed every aspect of daily life. It has forced businesses to close and people to stay inside — meanwhile, economies continue plummeting. With this chaos, you might fear for your hiring process. However, you can use some tips and strategies to maintain your search for new employees during this pandemic.
Digitization and technology are your friends during this difficult time. They will help in terms of promoting your listing, matching employee and business needs and fostering better communication. These five strategies will help you hire new candidates during the era of COVID-19:
1. Job Descriptions
The job description is the first thing a prospective applicant will see. You should alter this information by revising the details to fit the current situation. Individuals will want to know they’ll have a secure job with your company, and the best way to assure them is through communication.
Keep this area concise as well. The details should remain clear so that a prospect will know exactly how your company will hire them during the pandemic. Remote positions, for instance, are beneficial for productivity, and becoming more popular every day. For the time being, working from home is the better option if your company can provide that ability.
Proper and timely communication will emphasize your company culture. People need support during this time, and mentioning that in the job description is a beneficial way to connect with prospects. Once they progress forward from the initial stages, you’ll want to maintain proper communication with them.
2. Social Media
People are on social media now more than ever — it is one of the fastest and most connected ways to receive information about COVID-19. Additionally, many people use these platforms during the job search. Social media is the center of conversations and interactions. Becoming part of that network will spread awareness about your job openings.
Combined with the growing use of social media, unemployment rates are increasing exponentially. In the past two weeks alone, Americans have filed almost 10 million unemployment claims, with that number most likely to increase as the pandemic progresses. Many people find this kind of information on social media. Creating job listings opens up an opportunity for them they might need.
You’ll need to have an engaging page, too, which means diving into the relevant conversation — the coronavirus. Every part of your business for the foreseeable future will most likely entail discussions about the pandemic. When you engage with prospective applicants properly, they are more likely to apply through your social media platform. Having caring conversations with your candidates can personalize the process during this time of need.
3. Hiring Services
Working with hiring services is a beneficial way to help another company while simultaneously boosting your own. In this partnership, you provide the criteria for a candidate you’re looking for, and the hiring service works with prospects to see if they’re a proper fit. If they are, the service can direct them to you to continue the process.
Working with these businesses has many benefits. In a time where unemployment is increasing, every company can use the partnership. Hiring services can help you expand your reach for new talent as they differentiate between passive and active clients. They offer in-depth tools to help you find the perfect match.
These businesses can take the extra step to reach out to prospective applicants, too. This measure is especially necessary during the coronavirus crisis. People want to know the company they applied for is investing in them and actively seeking employees. Reaching out builds that connection in a time of uncertainty.
4. Online Applications
Some of the most common places to find active applicants is through online sources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Indeed. On these three platforms, you should have your active listings available for easy access. The more range, the more applications you’ll receive. As the pandemic spreads, unemployment rates will likely increase. Making your opportunities available on multiple platforms will draw in more candidates.
You’ll also want to update the position description and details on each of these platforms. Much like overall job descriptions, you should include how the coronavirus will affect the hiring process and worker responsibilities. Beyond that, you could take a step further to update your existing listings and ensure employees that you’re still hiring. If possible, integrating remote positions will be useful.
Online job seeking has increased over the years as advanced technology becomes more crucial for businesses. Now, because of COVID-19, it’s become a necessary channel for job seekers. Make sure your platforms are up to date to make the application process smooth.
5. Communication Tools
Communication is a vital element for any business. Social distancing and quarantine regulations mandate that people across the country must stay home. Applications and tools like Zoom and Skype can help with this aspect of the crisis. These platforms allow audio and visual capabilities, which will come in handy for job interviews and conferences while working from home.
During this pandemic, certain companies are reaching out to facilitate a better transition to remote working. Zoom, for instance, is offering free services for things like education, telehealth and more. Similarly, Skype has also seen an increase in use for businesses and educational purposes.
Securing Jobs During Uncertainty
If you are transitioning to remote work, you can also look into knowledge bases for your company. These allow you to work collaboratively, store data and information, share projects and manage tasks in real-time. Incorporating this type of platform will provide applicants with confidence that they can succeed at a new job. From there, you can help in streamlining the hiring process during this time of global crisis.
By: Caleb Danziger, BOSS contributor
Leave a Reply