Recruiting during a lockdown

Recruiting During a Lockdown: Yes, Do It

Don't put recruitment on hold?just because the pandemic hasn't ended yet. It may feel counterintuitive to look for talent before the world has reopened and settled into its "new normal", but savvy employers know that despite the uncertainty that may still be lingering, this is the time to find hidden gems. Here are some things to keep in mind as you fill?—?or re-fill?—?your ranks.

The Talent Is Out There

Top performers are in demand now more than ever. Fortunately, they are also looking for you. Some of them have been riding out the pandemic at home and are doing their research on employers, gauging which companies offer more employee-centric incentives. For businesses that?have been working hard to streamline, top talent will be key to their profitability coming out of the pandemic.

Employee Priorities Have Shifted

For as long as most people?can remember, the number one priority for employees was financial. Then, Covid-19 happened, and everything was turned on its head. Now what is sought by the people you want to hire is?flexibility and stability. If something like the Covid pandemic happens again, employees want to know that they can continue working while adhering to things like social distancing mandates.

The New Workforce Model Creates Opportunities

The Covid lockdown forced businesses and agencies to quickly adapt to working remotely. Zoom and other conferencing technologies became commonplace, and working from home has become the norm for many office workers. Larger companies have converted a number of jobs into permanently remote positions, realising that even Personal, Executive, and Team Assistants could perform many functions connecting from home. With the right technology and support, all the amenities of Sydney's CBD can be accessible to the entire team, wherever it is.

The World is Transitioning Back After COVID

For prospective talent looking to further their careers with companies that offer flexible schedules and working arrangements, employers with comprehensive work-from-home protocols will be of most interest. What the pandemic has taught us is that a surprising number of job duties can be performed remotely, whether it's a Marketing team developing a campaign, Office Support and Office Managers, or Human Resources. While this is not ideal as a permanent arrangement, the trend does allow businesses and workers time to transition back gradually as social distancing requirements relax.

Consider Starting Candidates from Home

Having new hires start working for you from home can be an excellent approach to recruiting as we come out of lockdown. Chances are, they are already set up for this. It may simply be a matter of providing them with software and security updates. Understandably, many candidates may feel vulnerable starting a new role from home, since it has not been traditional to begin a job this way. With clear direction and goals set out in a well-reasoned plan, informative onboarding materials,?an unambiguous schedule, and regular?—?at least weekly?—?catch-ups, the transition will happen smoothly.?

?