4 Tips To Aid Your Staffing Team In Navigating The 2020 Hiring Landscape

Teams will need more than just dedicated workers

The staffing industry is more competitive than it has ever been, and these days it takes a lot more than just hard work and talent from a recruiting standpoint to become a high growth staffing firm. The American Staffing Association reports that the staffing industry provides job and career opportunities for nearly 17 million employees each year. And with the recent coronavirus outbreak, we are about to witness both unprecedented slowdowns and hiring surges. Once this pandemic is over, there is also the possibility that firms will be rushing to get back to normal, which is why we see a potential hiring surge across all sectors - and getting ready for it will be critical.

In order to process this sheer amount of volume and navigate the unknown landscape ahead, teams will need more than just dedicated workers. Having a conversation about AI affords businesses the opportunity to be adaptable in times of uncertainty and uncharted territory. AI’s ability to source and onboard thousands of candidates at the same time is unmatched by any recruiting team in the world and will play an integral role in the success of staffing teams in 2020. Yet while AI will be one facet of the recruiting arm, there are still other improvements recruiting teams must implement in order to rise above the challenges this new year will throw at us. Here are four ways to help your staffing team navigate the hiring difficulties 2020 poses:

Implementing Conversational AI. The objective is to recruit as efficiently and effectively as possible. While our world undergoes continuous technological advances, a firm will fail to succeed in the industry unless it continues to adapt. Artificial intelligence, and more specifically advanced conversational AI, incorporates a more personalized, hands-on experience for your clients, while also generating a faster approach to finding the ideal candidate. 

An advanced CAI platform will bring candidates through the hiring process in a way that makes them feel comfortable. While not trying to completely replace the human element, CAI will feel natural enough to keep candidates interested and on task. Allowing AI to handle the early stages of the candidate pipeline will create efficiencies, opening up time for the human side of the team. The end result is a recruiting team that provides the best services, as well as develops a closer working relationship between a staffing agency and its clients. 

Improve the Candidate Experience. Staffing will only continue to get competitive, especially as some of the nation's largest companies get ready to hire logistical workers. Companies need to be certain that they are providing a better candidate experience than competitors. Many candidates drop out of the hiring cycle before even finishing their application. Every step of the hiring process should be tailored to make candidates feel wanted and valued. A better experience will result in a better relationship, and eventually, if that candidate receives a job offer and decides to accept it, they will be more motivated to perform well for the company. 

Utilize Internal Talent. Because of the predicted hiring surge, some companies may not be able to keep up with hiring demand. Take the time to analyze how your team works through daily tasks. Ensure they are managing interview schedules, approaching candidates through outreach emails and updating all possible data. If certain team members excel in one area, make sure their time is focused on that area. Play to your team's strengths and keep your team motivated with goals. Making use of internal talent is essential to ensure you are providing the best services to customers in busy times.

Be an Innovator. Create a perception of yourself in the marketplace. Make it a priority to be at the forefront of innovation and always keep up with new advances. This plays into the candidate experience again, in that a company that is seen as an innovator will already seem more favorable to potential candidates. Set challenges within the staffing agency that might be hard to achieve, but are designed with the most important consideration. If you are an authentic innovator in the industry, you will attract what you give off. 

While these aren’t the only ways you can improve a recruiting team, they are sure to make a major impact. Taking advantage of the digital transformation disrupting the recruitment space will be vital as hiring needs continue to rise. Pairing that with an unmatched candidate experience is a surefire way to make sure your company can meet and exceed its hiring needs.