And we are LIVE!
The festive break ended, kids went back to school, and it was back to the workplace – real or virtual – for most of us, whether we liked it or not! Unfortunately, too many workers fall into the latter camp, loathing the prospect of returning to work from Christmas Day onwards.
If you were not keen to return to work this January… It might be time to find a new job!
It’s why no month does people movement quite like January!
A new year rolls in, and people begin to ask questions of themselves. Like, “Am I getting fulfilment from what I do?”. “Will the money I earn cover my needs?”. And “Do I believe in the company I work for?”
If this is you, you’re not alone. Thankfully, alongside all of you looking for a change sits the recruiters hoping to place you. The good news is that the right job lies in waiting – and together, you must go forth and find it!
So, does 2023 look optimistic for recruitment?
Sure, it does!
Before the Christmas break, we spoke of our relief at taking time away from work after another challenging year for recruiters. 2022 was, after all, deemed a candidate’s market, which made it somewhat difficult for our sector for many reasons. Those looking for a job had high demands – complete flexibility and a high salary for little responsibility – while others made a meal about budging from their current role whatever offer was on the table.
However,… In our opinion, 2023 appears optimistic for job seekers and talent hunters. For starters, there are still plenty of vacancies around, even if the total number has dropped somewhat since its peak last May. And despite the gloomy economic climate, many sectors continue to grow – which cannot and will not happen without people.
Recruitment trends for 2023
So how will talent seekers approach recruitment in 2023? Here’s the trends all you recruiters and hiring managers must keep across this year to win the ‘work change’ war.
1. Recruitment marketing remains key Nowadays, it is all about brands showing their best side to attract talent. Telling stories on social media, your website, and through job ads to demonstrate how you value people (and how yours enjoy working for you) is key – all automated and backed up by SEO, so you’re seen and seen regularly. Tell the world you’re an incredible company to work for and why!
And guess what? This is precisely what potential employees are looking for too! They want to work with a company that shares their values – and you’ll save time on recruiting by attracting the correct type of applicants from the get-go.
2. The talent shortage continues… Just as new jobs are opening, employees continue to resign, which means unemployment rates remain high. But it doesn’t mean people are flying straight towards their next job either – despite receiving offers. It’s a picky audience out there, for sure, and recruiters need to stay aware of the fact. If you’re proceeding to offer, you’d better make sure it’s a good one! And don’t dilly dally on the way either, with 2023 candidates not up for a slow burn, ‘several rounds of interviews’ hiring process.
If a candidate ticks the skills box and seems a good fit culturally, make that offer! If you don’t, someone else sure will.
3. Look deeper within when recruiting Point three may sound obvious to many of you, but you’d be surprised how many clients we ask about their internal talent pool and find it’s something they have entirely overlooked.
Next time you’re recruiting, ask yourself this question: do you need to go beyond your four walls to fill those job vacancies? Recruiting internally can save your business a massive amount of time and cost, not to mention giving your employees a progression path. Further training can help to plug any skills gaps, and you already know they fit your culture. Even looking at your former employees and alumni can speed up the search process and uncover potential candidates. Get your Sherlock Holmes hat on and give the people you already know a good looking over – there could be a few candidate clues right there!
4. Up the onboarding ‘experience’ The whole ‘welcome aboard’ thing has shifted direction in recent years – and in 2023, it will only continue. That team lunch on day one is only the tip of the iceberg!
After the technology boom, many companies took a centralised approach to onboarding, using systems to guide the process. Now, we’re seeing a return to people taking the lead, with real human interaction used in all aspects of onboarding - even the most basic training sessions. By upping the social interaction, businesses create more opportunities to convey their values and culture to any new hires quickly. At the same time, the employee feels part of the furniture much faster too. You might even speed up the process again by introducing new hires to their team in person or on a video call before their first day.
So, continue with the welcome lunches on day one, but be sure you back them up with a well-planned, people-centric onboarding schedule that helps new hires settle quickly. You might even speed up the process again by introducing new hires to their team in person or on a video call before their first day!
5. Hybrid working remains the hero Safe to say, what came along in the Covid aftermath is now a permanent fixture. The hybrid working model better suits many employees than a rigid workplace-based structure – so much so that many won’t even consider roles that don’t incorporate a percentage of remote-based working. While plenty of businesses see benefits over and above what their employees want – reduced overheads among them – others have a way to go in meeting the wants and needs of their workforce. If companies are to survive and thrive in 2023, hybrid working is an absolute must-adopt strategy to keep existing people happy and attract the new talent necessary for growth.
Recruiting people the 1-2-1 way!
As recruiting experts, we’re fortunate to continue making placements regardless of ongoing market challenges. Our experience with optimised search techniques, a people-focused hiring strategy and a highly personalised service to hirers and candidates helps us continue placing people successfully. So, if you’re hiring people in 2023 and want help from an experienced, personable team who gets recruiting done despite the market conditions, book your new year chat with 121 today!