5 Reasons why Technology is raising the Recruitment Stakes

Business Insights
16/12/2020

In a changing world, successful businesses have realised recruitment has changed. The use of technology has shortened the recruitment process. It’s getting easier to attract the right people.


There may be more people looking for work yet there’s more competition for good people. This is because of changes in people’s attitudes to working, an increasing talent pool to search and the wide acceptance of remote technology. The Tech Nation 2018 reported a 164% staff shortage in the key technology sector. When you add in the uncertainty of Brexit and the complexity of sourcing from abroad, it makes sense to get ahead of the competition.


Here are five reasons why technology has changed the approach needed to find the best people, retain existing staff, and stay ahead of the recruitment curve.


    1. People

    The habits and expectations of people have changed.

Whatever you think of remote working, many people have seen the benefits to their personal lives. It means they can avoid the drudgery of the daily commute. They have more time to deal with the school run, save travelling and eating out costs and are therefore less stressed overall. This is positive for the employer, as less stress means improved mental health, increased productivity, and the willingness to go that extra mile. This can be seen in reduced absenteeism, improved retention, and a more stable work force.


    2. Pool

    The ability to work from home means there is a larger pool of talent.

This is because travelling time, distance, and other constraints are reduced. Travelling distance is less important if staff don’t need to be physically in the office every day. Millennials are more likely to consider a role if the overall travelling cost is reduced. People who have commitments such as young children or aged parents are more likely to consider applying for a job offering remote working. Existing staff who would be taking up maternity or parenthood leave are more likely to carry on working before taking their entitlement. Geographically, people can apply from anywhere in the UK and abroad, increasing cultural diversity alongside the neurodiversity of people.


    3. Process

    Technology has made the recruitment process shorter and faster.

A business can fill a vacancy at short notice or use additional steps to ensure the candidate is a good fit with the rest of the team. The typical pre-screen, interview, and reference chasing can all be done remotely. This means a better selection of quality candidates can be found. The selection process is easier to schedule as candidates and interviewers can meet more easily. Also, references are more thorough, as virtual checking replaces the old-fashioned written reference.


    4. Productivity

    AI (artificial intelligence) is improving

Getting the right people has always been important, and that includes fitting into the existing team and office environment. This is important when logical, creative, and technical people need to work together. Technology allows the core values of the individual candidate to be aligned with the existing team culture. It means emotional bias is managed for people with ADHD, Asperger, Dyspraxia etc. who find office conditions challenging. For example, FLOCK data driven cultural assessment is a powerful tool when assessed by experienced recruiters. It means AI supported by human emotional intelligence is delivering the best people.


    5. Payback

    Cost savings can’t be ignored

The cost savings from remote working technology come from the recruitment process, a more productive team, office savings, HR and legal compliance and company branding. Today, candidates have more choice and increased expectations. It makes sense to have a recruitment process which can satisfy these expectations in a professional and fair manner. This ensures legal compliance and builds a company reputation where people want to work. With a larger talent pool, the technology can help candidates find the best fit for themselves and the business. This means team culture, neurodiversity, and the human factor can all be considered to find the best office/working from home ratio. This results in reduced office space and maintenance costs, which outweigh any equipment costs. The productivity gains from loyal staff who are less stressed and motivated with a more flexible working style have already been mentioned.


In summary, the recruitment landscape has changed. With or without an internal HR team, the faster recruitment process means using a quality recruitment partner makes even more sense.


Backlink: https://allowlist.io/product/fully-managed-recruitment/

Author: Musa Ayoob, CEO/Founder NQB Recruitment