Staffing and Search in 2018: What’s New and What’s Tried and True

Staffing, recruiting and job seeking has changed a lot in the 21^st century, demanding new approaches when it comes to hiring employees or seeking a new position. Yet there are some tried and true staffing and search tactics that will always survive. The Lee Group embraces the new while keeping the best of the past as it works to match its employer clients with the best employee.

Here are a few of the biggest changes in staffing and search that we’ve seen here at The Lee Group along with some tips to embrace them for success. We’ve also listed some of the tools of the past, so you can make sure they aren’t being forgotten or ignored.

Technology drives the biggest changes in staffing and search

• We’ve come a long way from classified ads, bulletin boards and even the first release of Monster.com. Today there are hundreds of sites for posting resumes, networking and searching for opportunities globally. Most sites will flag opportunities based on search criteria an employee enters, and they also will filter and flag prospects for employers. If using an online job site, use more than one, whether you’re an employee or employer. And take advantage of what the sites offer beyond job postings. For example, some sites may offer webcasts or content that will help refresh a skill or learn a new one.
• Who’s reading your resume? Many organizations today use an Applicant Tracking System or Automated Resume Screeners. These are software tools that “read” resumes to help cull applicants who would be the best fit for the position based on key words and experience. Only if your resume checks those boxes will it be seen by a human. While this helps employers, who get hundreds of resumes for one single position, it requires more strategy for job seekers. It means that prospects must build their resume with words that help get it through the automated tools and they must use a document format that is easily parsed into the system and doesn’t drop important information.
• The interview process has changed significantly and requires more preparation than just questions and answers. As more employers and staffing agencies use video in early stages of interviews, all participants need to prepare not just the Q&A, but also their environment. If you’re an employee at home, make sure you are in a room where no one will interrupt you – not even the cat. The room you’re in should be quiet and have good acoustics.

This also is your first impression and appearance matters – both your appearance and the appearance of the room you’re in. Make sure you and your surroundings are “ready for their closeup.” The same holds true for employers. An applicant is getting her first impression of you and the work environment as well!

Video also requires that everyone understands how the technology works. Best to experiment in advance of any interview to make sure you know how to connect to the video and control your microphone and camera.

Some things in staffing and search will never change

• Everyone says that today your network – who you know – is truly how you’ll find your next job or how you’ll fill that critical position with a trustworthy, reliable employee. That may be true, but it’s also true of the past. Relationships are the best resource for finding that new position or hiring a loyal, top-notch employee.
• First impressions count whether you’re meeting on the phone, in person or via video. And it goes both ways. For employers, if you don’t seem genuinely interested in listening to a prospect and hearing about his qualifications, he will lose interest, too. He may come away thinking the job isn’t important to the business or worse, leave with a poor opinion of the company and you! For employees, a good first impression is the difference between getting a second interview. This means that you must be “on” in everything from your appearance and energy to your body language and how you answer questions and verbalize why you’re the best person for the job. The best way to ensure you’re ready for a first interview is to practice.
• Be confident. Confidence is one of those qualities that when it’s there, you know it. When it’s not, you sense that something’s missing. Neither an employer or employee wants to work with someone who’s not confident – either in their skills or their business and its future.

The Lee Group can help both employers and job seekers embrace the new, technology-driven staffing and search landscape, and fine tune tried and true practices of how you use your network and deliver a great first impression with confidence.