I had a wonderful conversation with a former client yesterday, who is looking for a very specific person to fill a very specific position, and he asked me what I thought about the labor market. Here are my thoughts:
Everywhere you look there is a report of more layoffs. We are seeing this trend in almost every industry. This is a huge shift for people in the hiring world, because the labor market has been really tight for the past several years. As this shift occurs, so should your recruiting and interviewing strategies. Here are some tips to help you along the way:
1) You will be getting more resumes. We are seeing an influx of candidates in our searches, which is good overall. The bad news is that now we are having to combat fake resumes. Be diligent, but don’t rely on what you see. Schedule a quick 15-minute interview to better vet the candidate.
2) Is this an opportunity to get better employees onboard? For sure. Your job is to treat your candidates with the utmost respect right now. They are hurting and scared. Don’t forget that.
3) Your search will not be easier, just because there are more candidates. In fact, it will be harder in some ways. You have to vet more candidates, and you have to respond to more people. It will be more labor intensive. Plan for that.
4) Finally, while this is a huge opportunity to grow your staff in a more organic way, please remember that you are dealing with peoples’ lives. Hire the right fit. Hold out for the right fit. And be honorable to those you don’t hire. Being kind will set you apart from your competition in the best way possible. And remember, we are here to help you if you get stuck.
Happy Hiring to us all!
POWER THOUGHT: Yes, this is an opportunity to hire better employees, especially if you are kind and thoughtful in your approach.