Talent acquisition remains a top priority as we come to the end of 2015. LinkedIn’s prediction that employers would hire in volumes that exceeded last year has proved true, though this has decreased slightly over the course of the year.
As we creep closer to 2016, its time to think about next year’s drivers of change and what needs to be prioritized to stay ahead of the curve in the world of recruitment.
Reaching passive candidates
If ONS Labour Market Statistics are anything to go by, the passive candidate market has grown. A whopping 57% of UK employees are considering moving jobs. Though many of these won’t have taken active steps yet, a number would be open to having a conversation about the right kind of opportunity.
Keeping an active and ever expanding network of industry contacts will be essential for both recruiter and jobseeker alike when it comes to joining the dots between top talent and opportunity.
There’s no reason to feel too smug when counting your LinkedIn connections, since this goes beyond numbers, and centres on building well-founded, active relationships with key industry professionals. And remember, if relationships are not getting stronger over time, it’s likely they’re getting weaker. Taking time to reconnect will keep those relationships alive.
This can be where niche recruitment agencies can provide a real helping hand. With particularly strong networks and a lot more contact with candidates, its a better position from which to approach contacts with opportunities. With relationships spanning years, as we place candidates several times throughout their career, we also have a better sense of the kind of career moves they’re looking for and in what kind of role and which kind of company culture they would most excel. That kind of knowledge is the greatest benefit of a strong network from a recruitment perspective.
Winning the competition for Talent
Surprisingly it is not all about offering attractive pay packages, though pitching a salary at the right level is very important. To ensure you gain and then, more importantly keep, your marketing superstars, other ‘hygiene factors’ are the real cornerstone. Keep your employees learning and facing new challenges and they’ll give more back to you. When they leave, many candidates do so for a new challenge and new start, rather than with an eye on increasing their pay packet. If they are given exposure to new things, and can show their progression and wider skill set, then the need to move companies becomes more redundant, or at least, loses its urgency. You’ll also have happier, more energetic employees, which should improve the performance of the marketing team.
Employer Brand
A good employer brand can do wonders for your recruiting efforts. It seems word has, finally, got round. 56% of 4,125 global talent leaders in the 31 countries surveyed for LinkedIn’s 2015 Global Recruiting Trends said they believe cultivating their employer brand is now a top priority.
With a compelling story, strong values and positive culture you’ll be able to inspire potential candidates and communicate that your company is a good match to them and a place where they can develop their potential. This strong brand needs to shine through in all communications, from the company website to the social media sites on which prospective employees might engage with the brand. It also needs to extend to the interview process.
When it comes to reaching out to marketing talent, these knowing eyes will read more into your communications than the world at large. As future advocates for your brand, the match here will contribute to their success and employee satisfaction.
Mobile Strategy
Finally, it might be time to review your mobile strategy. Mobile recruiting is fast becoming business as usual for a busy candidate and client work force.
Creating a mobile career site that lets job seekers apply for jobs directly from a mobile device is a great idea for a workforce on the move.
At marketingmoves, we often post jobs the minute we leave a client premises, creating postings that can easily be shared on social media and readily responded to. Our marketingmoves app makes searching and applying for jobs on the go that much faster. Access our website as well as unique app-only content with just a click by downloading the app from ITunes or Google Play today. Just search ‘marketingmoves’.
Contact Melvin Day at mday@marketingmoves.com or on +441932253352
