A recently published report surveyed over 400 human resource and business professionals in the first quarter of this year to determine what are the hottest issues they’re experiencing today when recruiting or hiring. Highlighted below are some of their key findings and our recommendations on how to improve your recruiting practices when you have the same issues.
* The majority of respondents (58%) say that their organization does have a recruiting strategy.
Although the majority surveyed admitted they have a recruiting strategy, nearly thirty percent stated they did not and the remainder said they weren’t sure. That’s approximately forty percent who admitted they are moving forward in this economic climate with little to no recruiting strategy. It’s been proven that companies who don’t invest in a recruiting strategy, waste money, time and other resources. For those who are without a recruiting plan, they are often left with poor results and costly expenses when it comes time to hire.
* The number one way that survey takers recruit for open positions is through employee referral, according to 78% of those polled.
Many recruiters know how vital employee referrals are, but still, there are many companies who don’t offer an employee referral plan. Or their referral plan offers little incentive to generate referrals from employees, vendors or other constituents. If you have a plan that’s providing minimal results, it’s time to revamp it. If you don’t have a plan, start networking with other businesses who do. Find out what makes their program great and create your own referral plan that gets you results.
* 58% of respondents say that their number one negotiable benefit during hiring is paid time off.
Paid time off is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to strengthen your job offer. Since salary is a fixed expense, vacation days, flex-time or even personal days can be great options when negotiating. More time can be given for those positions that are upper management. You may have to get creative when using this tool if you’re struggling with budget constraints and workload. Still, it’s a great option and as many recruiters surveyed confirmed, it works.
* 79% of respondents say that they use online recruiting as part of their overall recruiting strategy—just one point less than last year.
Many companies use the web to recruit, whether it’s their own website, a social media platform or another online job posting forum. As the year progresses, look for more postings applications, websites and the rise in applications to be submitted on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
* The company’s website is the number one location for posting jobs, according to 80% of survey takers.
Having a good website that is easy to use and has a simple process to apply for a job or submit a resume, is vital as many of these recruiter’s surveyed admitted. Companies must keep improving their website and offer their users something more than just a job posting. When was the last time your company updated its website? If so many users are choosing to post online, then employers need to stay focused on making the user-experience for a job seeker better. The better experience, the more job seekers, and the wider candidate pool.
To see more about the survey and some other key findings visit here. Our goal is to help those hiring managers embrace all their trends and challenges and just hire better. If you’re looking for better results with your recruiting goals, contact us for a free consult.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Ingrid Moore
Ingrid Moore is the President and Owner of Corporate Resources of Illinois, an employment & staffing agency with over 20+years’ experience located in Schaumburg, IL. Ingrid and her team assist employers with finding the right hire for their business. For more info, follow us on our LinkedIn Company Page, or follow us Corporate Resources of Illinois‘s Google+ page.
