5 Trends That Make It Harder Than Ever To Attract Candidates (and What Your Staffing Firm Can Do!)

Staffing firms have two jobs: connecting applicants with jobs and introducing candidates to employers. Constantly changing trends in the job market and various industries make it harder to recruit top candidates. You need to be aware of the trends impacting the industries you work with as well as the effects they have on your candidates. These five trends are making it harder than ever to find good candidates. Here’s what your firm can do about it.

How to Attract Candidates Despite Current Trends

Talent Shortages

Shortages are a huge problem facing recruiters in today’s talent market. Much of the top talent in any given industry is already employed. Sometimes, the applicants you receive for any given position simply aren’t qualified. Because of this, recruiters are being pushed to look beyond people applying to open jobs. Instead, they have to look at people who are already in the workforce. In some cases, this involves doing cold outreach. However, most employees today say they are open to new work if it became available.

Recruiters can tap into their talent pool and engage with passive candidates. Doing this can help address talent shortages and help meet their client’s needs.

Increased Competition

Having fewer qualified candidates means there is more competition. Companies have to consider what they can do to make their job offer more attractive to candidates. Oftentimes, higher wages or better benefits can help sell a position. Other perks should be offered too. Many employees want to work for a company that provides growth opportunities or more paid time off. Whatever the case may be, candidates have more leverage than ever when it comes to negotiating benefits.

As a staffing firm, you need to be aware of the changes in the industry. Know what a competitive salary and benefits package entails.

Slow Hiring Process

A slow hiring process is the easiest way to get a good candidate to hit the road. Of course, some positions and some industries require longer hiring periods. A government role, for example, takes around 54 days to fill. Other positions take about 24 days to fill, on average. When a candidate is left in limbo, this waiting period can make it seem like the employer isn’t interested.

Automating your processes can help speed this process along. Send out regular updates, letting the candidate know where they stand. This way, you won’t miss out on quality candidates because things were taking too long.

Improved Transparency

In today’s job market, candidates are interviewing employers as much as employers are interviewing them. Candidates look for reviews of the employer on sites like Glassdoor. They get to know everything they can about the work culture. Making this information more accessible to potential applicants will help you appear more transparent, which will help you attract candidates.

Staffing firms can provide candidates with all the information they need about a potential employer. Giving them this information can help determine whether they are a good cultural fit and more.

Unrealistic Expectations

Setting unrealistic expectations will always set you up for failure. When it comes to hiring, many employers make the mistake of setting budgets too low, refusing to be flexible, and not offering advancement opportunities. If you aren’t able to offer what candidates in your industry are looking for, manage your expectations accordingly.

Before moving forward with placing any talent with a company, discuss their expectations. Give them information about what the industry averages are and talk about how they can remain competitive by managing expectations like this.

Looking to Attract More Candidates To Your Staffing Firm?

Essium’s technology can help your staffing firm better manage the ever-changing talent landscape. Our tech can help you automate much of the recruiting and hiring process, making it easier to attract new candidates. Learn more about how Essium’s onboarding technology can help your staffing firm.

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