What should job seekers expect as companies reopen?

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The hiring process seemed to change in an instant in 2020 when the new coronavirus began shutting down communities around the world. Job offers and internships were rescinded. Open positions disappeared. Any in-person interviews moved online. Of course, the labor market also exploded with new talent as companies let go of workers.

Now that some countries are beginning to take early steps to reopen thanks to the help of vaccines and other public health measures, we should take a moment to examine the hiring process. Will anything change over the next few months? Are any of the pandemic-induced changes here to stay?

I reached out to recruiters across North America to see what job seekers should expect over the next few months. While I can’t showcase all of their responses, you can read them by clicking here.

Video interviews are here to stay

Video interviews had been part of the hiring process for years, but the technology was mostly used for initial conversations. COVID-19 forced companies to rely more heavily on video interviews for the entire hiring process. In many cases, people were hired during the pandemic for jobs without ever meeting in-person with a hiring manager or company representative — something that was relatively uncommon before 2020.

The reliance on video interviews is likely here to stay, according to the recruiters who responded to me. In fact, some say video interviews are working out better than in-person conversations. “The video conferences, interviews/orientations appears to be working well not to mention can be creative and fun,” wrote Toshia Brown, who is a recruiter.

The reason companies will continue to embrace video interviews as a large part of the hiring process is simple. Video interviews are much easier and cost-effective than flying in candidates for rounds of interviews. They can also speed up the hiring process.

Of course, don’t be surprised if you are eventually asked to come to an office for an in-person interview. “In-person interviews may become a best practice and preference for final round interviews, but the last year plus has shown it is definitely not a must for successful hiring,” wrote Melissa Severance, who is a career coach.  

An openness to remote working arrangements

Many companies are currently trying to strike a balance between in-office work and remote arrangements for their employees. Some employers believe in-person encounters are crucial to their business’s success. Others say it doesn’t hurt their bottom line and may even cut down on office costs.

Regardless, job seekers are likely to find that potential employers are more accepting of remote working arrangements than before the pandemic. In addition to many people enjoying the flexibility brought on by remote work, employers can also use the arrangement to woo top talent from outside their local areas.

“Firms that are at a competitive disadvantage in attracting local candidates will be able to attract higher quality candidates on a remote basis,” wrote Richard Fisher, who is an HR consultant.

In fact, some companies that won’t allow employees to work from home — at least part time — may find themselves at a disadvantage. A job seekers choosing between two or more similar offers may select the one that will allow him or her to work from home a few days a week than the offer from a company that requires them to be in an office every day.

“I think companies that choose to make their employees work onsite ... are going to be at a disadvantage in the competition for top talent,” wrote Brent Rogers, who is a recruiter.

Job seekers will regain power in the hiring process

Job seekers have felt powerless for most of the pandemic. The general feeling was that so many people were out of work that companies had their pick of top talent for any open position. But that is starting to change.

A large portion of the recruiters who responded to me mentioned that competition for talent is heating up and it’s putting job seekers back in the driver’s seat. The result is that job seekers can ask for more during the hiring process instead of just accepting what’s offered.

“I am seeing the war for talent heating up right now,” wrote Chuck Klein, who is a recruiter. “Candidates are getting multiple job offers and our clients have needed to offer more than they planned.”

Of course, competition and all of these other trends rely heavily on industry-specific factors. 

For example, one talent professional wrote that his hiring process has remained in-person since he specializes in health care, but that’s not true for some of his colleagues. “I have seen many colleagues in other business sectors that are continuing to stay remote or transitioning into a hybrid model (3 days in office, 2 days WFH),” wrote Navid Gilane. “I have seen companies transition to full virtual interviewing, virtual hiring, and virtual training. They are going to keep it that way but again, this will depend on the nature of the business and their respected business needs.”

Success in fighting back the coronavirus is another factor that will affect these trends.

Sadly, some countries continue to see incredibly high COVID-19 infection rates that represent immeasurable pain — as we’re seeing in India and Brazil. In turn, the pandemic is still hitting some economies and job markets hard. There are reports in India that the hiring process is slowing to a near halt, for example.

What trends are you seeing in the hiring process? Click here to join the conversation.

? Want even more #GetHired?

I go live every Friday at 12:00 p.m. ET from the LinkedIn News page to discuss important issues affecting job seekers and to answer your questions about looking for work. I spoke with Jennifer Tardy, who is a career success coach and 2020 LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers, on the most recent episode. You can watch it below or by clicking here.

Coming up…

Many people struggle with imposter syndrome. The feelings were likely made worse for some during the pandemic. We’ll be chatting with Richard Orbé-Austin, who is a psychologist and executive coach, on the next episode of #GetHired about imposter syndrome. He is also the co-author of Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life. You can receive a notification when we go live on Friday, May 14 at noon ET by clicking “Remind Me” on this link or the link below.

? The follow-up

People who are looking for work should ultimately be looking for the right job, but that doesn’t mean they’ll find a perfect position. In fact, expecting a job to be perfect may set you up for failure, according to Lindsey Pollak, who is the author of Recalculating: Navigate Your Career Through the Changing World of Work. In the last edition of #GetHired, she suggested a few steps to take when selecting a job. First, a person should have measured expectations. They should apply and do their research. They should know their non-negotiables. And, sometimes, they should just go with their gut. Here’s what people are saying about the advice.

? Other news to help you #GetHired:

More companies dropping degrees. An increasing number of companies are shedding requirements that applicants have post-secondary education for entry-level jobs. Merck's Kenneth Frazier and IBM's Virginia Rometty praised the efforts at a recent event for The Wall Street Journal, suggesting dropping degree requirements can help address inequalities in business and society. Riva Gold, my LinkedIn News colleague, writes that “IBM has dropped a number of degree requirements for hiring in recent years, saying propensity to learn was more important than pedigree.” Here’s what people are saying about the trend.

Having trouble getting your groove back? Many people feel stuck or “blah” after more than a year of disruption caused by the pandemic. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to bounce back and find a bit of energy, according to a recent piece in The New York Times. First, spend some time assessing yourself. Second, find joy and celebration in small moments. Third, find purpose in your everyday routines. You can find more tips and what people are saying about them by clicking here.

How can you succeed in a new job? Starting a new job during such difficult times can be scary, but experts say there are a few steps you can take to increase the odds of success. For example, don’t worry about sounding “silly,” ask questions to show you’re curious. Also, don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t seem right to you.You should also study the company’s culture to see where you feel most comfortable. Here’s what people are saying about the advice.

? Up next:

The U.S. labor market is at a crossroads as vaccines roll out and it recovers from the pandemic. For example, many people are still unemployed but you’ve likely heard that companies are having trouble finding people to hire. We’ll be diving into this trend and more in the next edition of #GetHired. 

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas on topics or questions I should address in future editions of #GetHired. You can also email me at GetHired[at]LinkedIn.com.