In a poll of more than 800 CEOs, the biggest business challenge they expected to face in 2019 was attracting and retaining top talent. We’re in a time of record-low unemployment and ample job opportunities, and workers are leaving their jobs at the highest rate since 2001. Because of this, the market is candidate-driven and your best candidates can afford to be more demanding.
So, what is a candidate-driven market? Simply supply and demand. As unemployment remains low and turnover climbs, attracting and retaining talent becomes increasingly competitive. Which is why it’s more important now than ever to distinguish your organization in the market.
What is candidate-centric recruiting?
In a candidate’s market the recruiting paradigm shifts from employer-centered to candidate-centric. Potential candidates become customers. Communication is fast and personalized. Here are a few of our top recommendations for how employers can adapt their recruitment strategies to stay competitive in a tight labor market:
Focus on candidate experience. A seamless, easy-to-understand application process that provides candidates with all the information they need, and in a reasonable amount of time, is crucial to attracting top talent. People in demand won’t settle for changed appointments, dozens of interviews, or waiting for an offer. They will simply accept one elsewhere.
Know your brand. Then sell it. Communicate your brand’s vision, culture, and service philosophy across your organization and make sure there is consistency in the messaging on all of your channels.
Keep your social media accounts active. A large part of employer branding is communicating your company’s “story” to relevant audiences. Staying active on social media and using a strategic approach to reach targeted users with your campaigns
Pay attention to your job descriptions. Everyday job descriptions need to be rewritten. Identical roles can sound completely different with some compelling copywriting, and you want your position to stand out and attract the best talent. It is also crucial to note that your job descriptions shouldn’t be overly embellished. Read more about writing a winning job description here.
Can your organization adapt to the employee-in-control mentality to make it in a candidate-driven market? Ready, set, compete!
