The US is facing great economic uncertainty right now, with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic being felt in different industries. Few have been spared, with businesses laying off workers or shutting down entirely. Unemployment claims have hit an unprecedented 30 million as of April 30, 2020, and many fear the global market has suffered long-term damage.
In the midst of the employment crisis, there are a few roles that have seen exponential growth: delivery drivers for food and other essentials, cleaners, healthcare and pharmacy workers, to name a few. Big-name companies such as Walmart and Amazon are ramping up to keep up with ever-increasing demand. The question still remains though: how can you successfully hire in these uncertain times? Here are a few challenges to hiring in the time of coronavirus:
1. Making the hiring process digital
Video interviews, electronic signatures, document uploads, automated messaging - these are replacing the traditional steps in what used to be a highly personal process. Gone are the days of office tours and in-person interviews, as processes are converted to become as contactless as possible - and even conducted from home, behind the safety of a computer screen.
2. Postponed job fairs and recruiting events
Recruitment agencies have had to cancel recruiting events left and right - from job fairs to campus tours, all these have been restricted as part of the directive to ban mass public gatherings. Even in this aspect, employers are looking to go digital, with events hosted on platforms such as LinkedIn Live, and on apps such as Zoom. Your company must learn to utilize online platforms as well to be able to scout for qualified candidates prospects.
3. Budget cuts for recruitment
With revenue streams being severely limited, most companies are looking for ways to cut back on costs - and this includes the hiring process. As a business owner, you need to look for the most efficient and cost-effective solutions to your recruiting challenges. All-in-one hiring platforms can be one answer, so that you can digitize your hiring process and have all steps done on a single dashboard.
4. Lack of qualified applicants
Given the current situation and atmosphere of rising fear of exposure and infection, it’s no wonder that there is a decrease in qualified prospects. It’s no longer enough to get plenty of applicants - they must be competent in order to prevent a rise in your turnover rate as well.
5. Low compensation for perceived risks
Compensation issues go hand in hand with cost-cutting, with many hourly workers feeling that they are underpaid in light of the risks they are taking in order to keep a company’s daily operations going. Many hourly employees are at the frontline of businesses: interacting with customers, completing transactions, making deliveries. You must take the added risk into consideration and provide other compensation or benefits, where applicable.
Experts say we’re in this financial crisis for the long haul, and that we’re looking at tough months ahead. If your company lacks the flexibility to learn and adapt, you could be left scrambling to survive.
Workstream is dedicated to helping businesses resolve their recruiting challenges. Our all-in-one automated hiring platform has helped numerous companies save time and costs. Get a free demo today to see how we can make a difference in your bottom line.