A recent survey from global staffing firm Robert Half finds employers are having difficulty recruiting top talent, given that the unemployment rate for college-educated workers is around 2 percent.
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Indeed, 20 percent of CFOs say it is “very challenging” and 45 percent say it is “somewhat challenging” to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today. Put another way, approximately two in three companies are experiencing recruiting difficulties.
New Strategies
“With skilled professionals in short supply, hiring strategies that worked well a few years ago may no longer be effective,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half. “Smart businesses are retooling their recruiting practices to feed the talent pipeline.”
How have companies adapted their approach to hiring?
- 51 percent have considered college students or recent graduates for roles that historically weren’t open to them
- 51 percent have expanded the search to a wider geography
- 47 percent have hired interim professionals to evaluate them for full-time roles
- 46 percent have accelerated the hiring process to avoid losing candidates’ interest
- 43 percent have loosened the criteria to consider more candidates
Advice to Consider
With these and other strategies in mind, Robert Half offers the following advice for employers:
- Re-examine your hiring criteria. Identify must-have attributes and skills that can be taught on the job. Develop a strong onboarding program to help new employees get up to speed quickly and learn your company’s systems and processes.
- Amp up active recruitment. Long gone are the days when you can advertise a job opening and wait for skilled professionals to apply. Keep your eyes and ears open. No matter what type of event you are at, be ready to describe your company’s exciting job opportunities.
- Consider remote options. Give potential employees the option to work remotely, if the nature of the job allows for it. This flexibility enables you to tap a wider base of professionals.
- Partner with a recruiter. Staffing professionals can help you quickly find and secure candidates you may not be able to identify on your own. They’ll also handle other aspects of the hiring process such as posting job openings, interviewing applicants, checking references, extending offers, and negotiating compensation.
- Leverage employee referrals. Ask employees if they know people who would be good additions to the team, as your staff are more likely to refer candidates who they think will be a good fit. Implementing an employee referral program can also be a powerful recruiting tool.