Finding the right talent for companies of any size and in any industry is more challenging than ever before. With labor pools shrinking due to the lingering effects of a global pandemic, combined with a surge in job openings, it’s never been harder to attract top-quality talent, especially for roles that require unique skillsets. Here are some of the most common challenges facing recruitment teams and how to overcome them.
Attracting great candidates
When it comes to talent team challenges, attracting the right candidates is at the top of the list. Recruiters often have to choose the best person they can find at the time—not necessarily the person who’s the perfect fit for the job. It’s simply a time-consuming, tedious task in itself for recruiters to wade through a flood of unqualified applicants.
The best way to avoid dealing with a pool of unqualified talent is to be clear and direct about the specific requirements of the job in your job posting. If you’re creating an application form for your job posting, include “knock-out” questions that screen out unqualified applicants from the rest. For example, if the position requires a specific college degree, include a yes/no question for immediate screening.
Engaging top candidates
The best candidates are regularly contacted by recruiters, which means it’s more of a challenge to make your response stand out in a flood of emails. It’s not uncommon for candidates with specialized skills to consider several job offers at once, so you need to go the extra mile to make your offer stand out from the competition.
Engaging top candidates is one of the biggest challenges facing recruitment teams, but personalizing your sourcing emails can help. When reaching out for the first time, describe what you and your company can offer them, rather than how they can help your company. Research their motivations and what makes them happy and fulfilled in their job, and use that knowledge to make a connection.
Hiring fast
Job openings cost companies money and delay operations, so it only makes sense that hiring teams want to fill roles as fast as possible. Often, prioritizing speed over quality leads to an imperfect fit. A delayed process can turn off qualified candidates, though, and taking your time could result in a great match finding a job somewhere else.
Adjust your hiring practices and find a comfortable rhythm both for your hiring teams and for applicants. Set realistic expectations and explain the importance of careful hiring—since a bad fit can cost the company more money in the long run. Also, communicate quickly with candidates and streamline the process as much as possible to make it easier for them.
Even the most experienced recruiting and talent teams face challenges throughout their career. Rather than spending time looking for the right employee to fill a particular role, rely on Windsor HR Services, Inc. to do it for you. We deliver customized HR solutions for organizations of all sizes, helping you develop your team with top-tier talent. Reach out today to learn more.