The need for speed in your recruitment process 

The employment landscape has stabilised significantly since the tumultuous times of COVID. Despite the dip, job advertisements still surpass pre-COVID levels, showcasing a resilient market. With the unemployment rate holding steady at 3.6%, coupled with a growing labour demand, speed is be key for recruiters and businesses to secure new talent.

Candidates now have a choice of work and an abundance of opportunities, with many interviewing for multiple roles simultaneously. To remain competitive in the modern market, recruiters and talent acquisition teams must be proactive and move quickly.  

Explore our top 4 tips to improve the speed of your recruitment process:

1.    Proactive candidate management 

Acting in the first 24 hours of an interview increases the potential to secure the candidate for the role. 
Always keep the recruitment process moving, even if you haven’t yet had a chance to start interviewing other candidates. If you like the candidate and think they are a good fit for the role, don’t delay the process by waiting for others to reach the same stage – move straight to the second interview!

2.    Active communication with the candidate

Candidates typically apply for multiple jobs, and if a candidate hasn’t heard an update or the next steps, they’ll likely move on quickly to another opportunity that has made contact.

Building a transparent recruitment process helps form a trusting relationship where potential hires and ongoing communication is the key. Always touch base with candidates to let them know:

- When their application has been received and when it’s expected to be reviewed
- An update at each stage of the hiring process
- If there’s a delay in the hiring process

Any information that can assist the candidate in moving on to the next steps should also be communicated. This includes interview dates or times, preparatory materials for the candidate to review, and timelines in the recruiting process.

3.    Establish everyone’s role in the recruitment process  

A defined process doesn’t just allow for a greater organisation; it provides an excellent impression to candidates who are interested in new opportunities.

Before you go live with your recruitment project, ensure your timeframes, actions, and the responsibilities of each stakeholder are outlined and agreed upon at the beginning of the process, to ensure everything is streamlined.

4.    Embrace technology in your recruitment process

Technology is your friend when it comes to recruitment, with a broad range of tools now available to save you time. A great example might be automating repetitive administrative tasks, such as sending confirmation emails, scheduling interviews, and sending follow-up messages with email/SMS tools. Further investing in recruitment software and artificial intelligence to automate resume screening and identify top candidates quickly, will dramatically streamline your process.  

Recruitment and selection have changed considerably in the last two years. There is a surplus of empty positions to be filled and a shortage of available talent to satisfy the demand. 
Today’s employment market necessitates that the process is quick. The days when people were just grateful to get a job offer have evaporated.  Candidates can increasingly pick and choose where they work, and who they work for.  Looking at ways to quicken the recruitment process, whilst ensuring you provide a positive candidate journey, will be key in attracting new talent to your team throughout 2023 and 2024. 

Call the Drake team to help you find and source talent across a wide range of industries and job disciplines. Find staff today.