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Recruiting in 2017: Should Your Search Strategy Change


recruiting search strategy

Whether you’re recruiting an Executive Assistant, a senior Finance Position, or even a CFO, a number of factors have materialized over the course of 2016 requiring businesses to modify how they source and recruit candidates for their workforce. Read on for a few of the ways you should be changing your search strategy to align with 2017 recruiting trends:

Recruiting Strategies Directly Affect Brand

Companies go to great lengths to build and execute an effective Brand utilizing successful marketing strategies. From website development to content marketing to trade shows, many businesses spend a great deal of money on marketing each year with one audience in mind: potential talent. But what good is a marketing strategy if your candidate and employee experience is poor? With the popularity of online employer review sites like Glassdoor, job seekers and employees are much more willing to share a review to recap their experience working and/or interviewing with your company. In fact, nearly 60% of job seekers have had a poor candidate experience and 72% talk about it. Not only does your candidate experience affect the talent pool that’s available, but also could be turning away potential customers as these reviews are 100% public.

How to modify your recruiting and search strategy in 2017

Be transparent about your hiring process (include it in your job description or job posting!) and keep your applicants in the loop with consistent updates along the way. Be wary of lengthy interview processes and long stretches between communication with prospects.  This will cause unnecessary delays in filling and backfilling roles and will also directly result in candidates losing interest or posting negative feedback online.

Generation Z is Changing the Workforce

2015 was the year Generation Z entered the workforce. Skip forward to now, GenZers are making big changes in the way companies are recruiting. While the group is extremely tech savvy, GenZers favour face-to-face communication and video calls over social media, text messaging, and other tech platforms. This is a major shift that needs to be translated in search and recruiting strategies. Companies must also continue to effectively recruit other crucial demographics by utilizing appropriate technologies such as Skype and Zoom, but must also be comfortable with good old fashioned face to face interviewing for Senior Administrative staffing such as Executive and Personal Assistants and Executive Search.  Diversify and you will not leave top talent behind.

How to modify your recruiting and search strategy in 2017

Don’t rely solely on job boards to find the right candidates. Be open to working with a recruiting partner that has access to a niche network of qualified talent when necessary. Your partner should have strong communication skills and be willing to work within your processes, and uphold your brand.

More HR Leaders Sitting in at the Executive Table

Traditionally, HR has worked in the background of the company, filling positions and essentially building the company’s workforce. But a 2016 study found that 83% of companies surveyed said talent is the number one priority in the organization. This means that HR leaders are finally getting an opportunity to have their say in talent management as it relates to the pursuit of growing the company.

How to modify your recruiting and search strategy in 2017

Have a clearly defined talent acquisition strategy and ensure you’re leveraging the best talent pools to find your candidates. Show the Executives you’re contributing to the growth of the company by having access to elite networks of candidates.

One of the common threads among these recruiting trends is the increasing need for a humanized hiring process with ongoing communication with candidates. With more and more opportunities for candidates and employees to share negative feedback about a company, it’s important to ensure your recruitment strategy is effective for your business but also creates a positive candidate experience.

Planning to recruit an Executive or Personal Assistant in 2017? Talk to an expert about how to find the best talent.