The recruitment landscape has drastically evolved since the introduction of technology, most notably artificial intelligence (AI). It has also transformed the job market and opened up more opportunities for job seekers, effectively changing how recruiters hire talent. Along with the diverse skills candidates are acquiring, it’s no longer just the company looking for suitable candidates—applicants have become selective with the companies they want to work for as well. This has had a huge impact on recruitment trends.
In 2018, 76 percent of hiring managers admit that attracting desirable talent was their greatest challenge. This will continue in 2019 and beyond, further influencing recruitment trends and techniques that will be used in the industry.
Here are six of the highly anticipated recruitments trends to watch for:
- Natural Language Processing
Natural language processing (NLP) is an AI-powered tech that will learn how to think and speak like a human so they can eventually give organic responses. It’s great for analyzing bulks of text, such as those in HR processes and forms. Analysis can be made without the influence of human bias. For instance, you can input human key phrases that you’re looking for and the NLP tool can locate the documents for you. - Cognitive Automation
Cognitive automation (CA) will support HR managers and staff in carrying out admin tasks. It will work in conjunction with NLP to function more accurately. Some of the things it can handle are HR inquiries, management of absences and leaves, promotions, and more. CA can also be used to study data for improvements in talent acquisition, personalized learning, and employee satisfaction. This is one of the biggest recruitment trends to watch for. - Atomization of Work
That’s atomizing, not automating—it’s not a typo. The goal of atomizing work is to break down large projects into smaller functions and delegate the different tasks, either by AI-powered tools or HR teams themselves. Processes will run faster with this model, as recruiters won’t have to go through vast piles of tasks on their own. Each step can be worked on simultaneously, such as sourcing, screening, assessing, and branding. - Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is bringing exciting things to the table in the world of recruitment. It’s a neat addition that will surely entice applicants to flock to your application booth! It has many creative uses, such as gamifying the application process or even giving shortlisted candidates a virtual tour of your office or future project. Once hired, onboarding and training activities may also be done through VR—the possibilities are endless which makes this one of the most promising recruitment trends. - General Data Protection Regulation
For the companies who seemingly have a never-ending database of applicants, it’s time to review your list. Think the GDPR is only for companies collecting data on customers? Think again. If you store any data on any candidate, you could be subjected to the GDPR rules. Regardless of whether you have a global team that extends to Europe or not, it’s good practice to clean out your database of applicants and only keep their necessary information. - Recruitment Marketing
Also known as inbound recruitment, recruitment marketing focuses on creating a great candidate experience for your applicants, starting from brand awareness until they get accepted (or rejected) to work for your company. This process begins from driving interest to apply in your company, presenting yourself as their employer of choice, and giving them a smooth application and onboarding process. This will help in attracting talent in an increasingly competitive market.
Final Words
There’s a pressing need for more efficient and creative tactics in recruitment, and this will presumably continue in the coming years. Adapting to the new recruitment trends and technologies are a must so as not to be left behind. Finally, it’s also critical for HR managers to remember that even if automation is peaking, there is still a need for a human touch in the recruitment process.
