According to a recent report, more than 54% of India Inc is keen on hiring this quarter. Hiring returns to pre-Covid levels across sectors say another report from a leading daily. An executive from a leading Executive recruiter mentioned it’s unlike anything I have seen in the last 20 years.
This is indeed an extremely challenging time for recruiters. Candidates are sitting with multiple job offers and as if this was not enough, the boomerang phenomenon is also pushing them back to their former employer. Amongst all this, it is not easy to attract talent, and hiring managers need to get really creative to hold attention of the candidates and use strategies that stand out.
Here are some of the strategies that stand out
Job Description
This is the most important thread of any hiring strategy. This is one of the first touchpoints with prospective candidates and if you use a run-of-the-mill outdated style of the Job description to attract new age candidates, you have set yourself up for failure. Go creative with the job description and it will help generate interest.
JD should be conversational and have personalized tone. Transparency is the key and creativity cannot be at cost of transparency. Hiding vital but not so attractive facets of the job may help in the short run but is a recipe for disaster in the long run. Job descriptions should be free of jargons as well and easy to understand.
Attention spans are going down and that’s why a compelling introduction will help grab attention. JD is an opportunity to create that emotional bond with the prospective hire. It should be written in such a way that prospective employees can envision themselves in the role. Being specific about the asks also helps weed-out unwanted profiles. Do not forget to make it inclusive.
Use Social Media
One of the best ways to connect with millennials and gen Z is through social media and that’s why recruiters need to be present on social networks like Instagram. While LinkedIn plays an important role in showcasing your culture and thereby improving band value, other social networks are a great way to connect with the latent.
Companies need to be present where talent is. As we all know people listen to people the most and hence when you genuinely care about your current employees and they become your brand ambassador on social media, it helps you gain a lot of traction in the talent war. Showcasing your employment practices through videos or testimonials will attract attention.
Certifications/ credentials validating your organization as an excellent place to work will help you gain the interest of prospective employees.
Volunteering
Inviting them for a volunteering role and helping them witness your great culture is another creative strategy to attract talent. Our youngsters are passionate about the causes they believe in.
Inviting them to your volunteering event will be a great opportunity for hiring and line managers to see them perform beyond typical interview conditions and the for candidates, it will be a great way to assess company culture.
This will help spread good word about your organization as well. During these events, they can be exposed to senior leaders and it will help strengthen your case as an employer of choice.
Gamify It
Gamification not only helps make the hiring process more appealing but also plays an important role in assessing people in holistic ways. It gives you many more inputs and insights about the candidate besides the past resume.
It is a great way to assess real skills. Many organizations use gamification early in their recruitment process to screen candidates quickly and accurately.
Use Former Employees and Influencers
Identify social media influencers/ micro-influencers from your team and encourage them to promote your company amongst their followers. For example, someone with good fan following in finance may be a great choice for a role in banking/ fintech.
Your former employees are your biggest brand ambassador and when treated well, they can play an important role in the overall hiring strategy. Besides, keeping the alumni network warm can give you a huge pool of candidates from their network.
Leverage Employer Review Site
These sites play a major role in swaying a candidate’s decision in your favour or against you. Just like employers check a candidate’s online footprints, candidates too evaluate the prospective employer through various means.
Keep a check on these sites and identify flaws in your system and take steps to rectify them. Acknowledging comments mentioned there and showcasing improvement indicates a progressive culture that is well appreciated by both existing and prospective employees.
While creative strategies will help you recruit the right talent, treating them in most human way, respecting their individuality, treating them fairly helping them grow, and engaging with them at head heart and hand level is the best hiring strategy ever.
