The Digital world has come a long way in the past two decades, we’ve seen the outbreak of Social Media, the creation of the biggest video search engine in the world (YouTube) and in 2007 the release of the first iPhone, which for many has become an essential part of their day-to-day lives.
Most people can’t go a full day without checking their phone or googling something, and for some people, even a whole hour would prove challenging. In 2017 we have even seen ‘digital detoxing’ become just as popular a new years resolution as the traditional juicing detox cleanse. My point is, technology is progressively becoming incorporated into everything we do and that includes recruitment. Just look at the success of LinkedIn and online job sites such as Indeed and CV Library. These online solutions to sourcing talent have exploded in the last few years and are continuing to grow.
Recruiting tools are continually evolving and as a result of this rapid rate of change, recruiters are constantly learning how best to utilise these new technologies and platforms of communication. This is partially due to the fact that you can’t recruit top talent without embracing the same advanced communications your top candidates are using.
Let’s look at some of the ways the digital world is changing the way we source talent…
THE SMARTPHONE
According to research from Deloitte, (A global network of professional independent firms providing audits), the number of smartphone users in the UK has risen to 72%. So effectively 72% of the UK population has the capability to instantly communicate with billions of people all over the world at their fingertips.
Whether it’s sending an email or sending a tweet, millions of people are instantly accessible through their mobile. Catering to this mobile audience is another great way to extend the reach of job postings and build meaningful relationships.
There has also been a rise in the number of people searching for jobs and filling out applications on the move. Busy active people who are constantly on the go expect a mobile site that is fast, user-friendly and easy to read. It’s reasonable to suggest that a mobile recruitment strategy to increase your recruiting efficiency could not be far from the future.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Of course we know social recruiting won’t completely take over from our traditional methods of recruitment, however, the potential benefits should not be underestimated. Social Media will give you the chance of smarter sourcing, offering incomparable access to millions of high-quality candidates for free. Look at the user stats; Facebook – 1.7 billion, Twitter – 317 million, LinkedIn 460 million. LinkedIn would be the obvious choice for recruiters, but it is important to recognise that we are seeing numerous other platforms adopting a social recruitment strategy. A recent example of this would be the launch of the new Facebook dedicated recruitment platform “Facebook Recruiting”.
PROCESSING DATA
The use of keywords is invaluable when searching for talent, it gives us the opportunity to narrow down talent from a pool of over 40,000 candidates. Without the ability to conduct an advanced search with specific guidelines in mind, finding your ideal candidate would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, as more and more data is processed and our databases become more advanced and effective, the ability to identify individuals is becoming much easier.
VIDEO
Video could potentially be the biggest marketing trend to take off in 2017. With the increasing popularity of Video for businesses, not only are you selling a product or a service, you’re selling a culture. Video can speak a million more words than a photo and with an estimated 100 million users watching videos each day, it could be one of the most effective ways to market yourself and attract candidates. There is also the option of live video streaming with programs like WebEx and Skype, reinforcing brand culture and allowing both recruiters and candidates greater freedom than ever before.
OUR PREDICTIONS
Ultimately technology is not going to replace the role of a recruiter but it will certainly provide innovative ways to make the process more efficient. Being a great recruiter is all about engaging and connecting with your candidate on a regular basis in order to build trust and rapport. Knowing your candidate’s personality and skill set is vital in order to match them appropriately to your client. A good candidate experience is probably the most effective marketing tool you will ever have at your disposal. Think about it, the better you know the candidate, the easier it will be to place them in the correct role, which means a happy client.
In summary, it is vital to recognise that the recruiting process is becoming more and more mobile oriented. Smartphone applications, instant messaging, video features and online groups are set to bridge the gap between candidates and recruiters, making communication and processes much faster. If recruiters fail to recognise the importance of keeping up to speed with these current trends of communication, they will be doomed to get left behind.