Hire Up: Smart Tactics for Tomorrow's Talent Landscape

Enhancing workforce planning, investing more in benefits, keeping top talent, and increasing employee experience are all top HR goals. These priorities show that there is still a talent war to be waged and that companies will need to work extra hard to identify the best people for their available positions.

HR professionals have their work cut out for them as the corporate sector faces another year of unforeseen events and financial difficulties. In this situation, HR directors and specialists need to find the best people using the best strategies. Are you ready to “hire up” to have the most polished and befitting candidates in your workforce? Let’s begin.

1. Introspect your employer brand.

Try and answer the following questions after some thought. What sets you apart from other employers in the job market? Why should the top talent choose your organization?

The public face that your business presents to the world as a possible employer is known as your employer brand. It's the culmination of all the various ideas that come to mind when someone inquires about what it would be like to work for your organization. If your brand is well-known, candidates will have no trouble drawing a comprehensive picture of these ideas when looking up your brand’s vacancies and work culture.

So, build an impressive employer brand to attract top talent, improve the application process, increase employee retention, create a talent pipeline, and improve your business’s standing.

2. Boost your business’s online and offline presence.

The way your business appears both online and offline gives potential customers an idea of your brand identity, core values, and caliber of services or goods. It's what establishes your business’s initial image and expectations for possible applicants. It also conveys professionalism and increases credibility with your audience.

Your online and offline presence includes channels like your "Work with us" page, social media profiles, email marketing, recruitment events, referral programs, and community involvement. 86% of job seekers use social media when looking for jobs. You could also use employee testimonials to improve your company’s visibility.

3. Encourage employee referrals.

According to 50% of recruiters, employee recommendations rank as the best source of prospects. So, get referrals from your best workers to draw in excellent personnel. This is how you reach out to passive candidates—people who are fine with doing well in their current positions and companies but who may be persuaded to join your team. Since past performance is the best indicator of future success, it makes sense to leverage your high-performing staff to identify more high performers rather than searching online for candidates.

4. Demonstrate your support for equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEI).

Candidates seek employment with organizations that support DEI. To attract candidates, dedicate a portion of your career page to your diversity and inclusion efforts, such as employee resource groups (ERGs), returnship programs, and anti-bias training.

Making the employment process inclusive is a good place to start. An easy first step is to use inclusive language in job descriptions. According to 52% of job seekers, the job description is a major factor in their choice to apply.

5. Customize your recruitment campaigns.

Recruiters can use behavioral, psychographic, or demographic information to target particular audiences with their campaigns. Use specific communication channels, information, and messaging tailored to applicants' interests and preferences. For example, a digital company might develop interactive Instagram posts that showcase behind-the-scenes office tours to attract Gen Z prospects.

6. Attend job fairs and industry gatherings.

Participating in local employment fairs and events will give your business access to a large pool of potential employees. If your community doesn't already host these events, offering to host them can help you network with other local businesses.

7. Hire at "proven" universities and colleges.

Experience is important when hiring people, but it's not the only factor to consider. Occasionally, the most qualified applicants are fresh graduates with little to no experience in the workforce. One of the biggest assets a developing company can have is ambitious college grads, particularly when it comes to hiring for entry-level jobs.

Contact the careers services office of a school or university to establish a consistent flow of qualified applications. If you aren’t sure about college graduates, offer them internships and see how they progress, turning them into full-time employees upon successful performance.

8. Leverage gamified evaluations.

This approach incorporates gaming elements into the hiring process to make it enjoyable, participatory, and interesting for the candidates. According to LinkedIn, 78% of respondents claim that a gamified hiring process increases their desire to work for the organization offering it.

Customized game usage in the hiring process isn't as absurd as it might appear. Using thoughtfully created games can be a very effective way to evaluate a candidate's aptitudes and fit with the company's culture. To start implementing this method, you can have game developers create role-specific games suited to your employment goals. These games may require candidates to use critical thinking skills, make calculated decisions, or work cooperatively with virtual co-workers or stakeholders while playing.

Final Thoughts

The business world is ever-changing, but the top priority of any business remains the same: finding and retaining top talent. Therefore, HR professionals must update their tactics to achieve this priority. They ought to increase their visibility both online and offline, use employee recommendations, promote diversity and inclusion, arrange gamified assessments, etc. By using these tactics, companies can draw in top talent and even make lasting connections in the labor market for the future.