Henry Ford, in 1908 rolled
out the first vehicle model through Ford Motor Company. Due to the
overwhelming demand he introduced mass production methods producing a standard
product in larger numbers. The buyer had to buy what was offered, But
today, customer preference is what drives the evolution of the motor industry.
A customer can make or break a company.
What relevance does this have for Human Resources?
For Human Resource professionals, employees are the customers and candidates are the potential customers. Human Resources can no longer rely on the standard set of practices to attract and retain talent.
Companies operate in volatile, ambiguous, uncertain and complex (VUCA) environment. This requires them to be able to adapt faster and react faster to changes. The Human resource function should be able to support the company's strategies at that speed. This will require HR to focus on getting the right person, at the right time, for the right role at the right cost and to develop and retain such talent.
Just as in the case of the motor industry where customer experience drives purchase and loyalty, candidate experience drives success in recruitments.
Forbes article (Council, 2019) has highlighted nine aspect all Human Resource professional need to be mindful of to create a positive candidate experience.
1. Consumerization of Recruiting
Candidates are more like customers and the need to deliver a great experience is mandatory to be successful in recruitment.
2. Relationship Management
Create a relationship with them right from the point of advertising up until onboarding.
3. Mutual Evaluation
Gone are the days when companies expected the candidate to impress the company to get recruited. Today, the company has to impress the candidate too!
4. The Need for Speed
It is important that we accelerate the candidate onboarding as there is a war for good talent. Delays can backfire in many ways. The recruiting process has been dramatically accelerated by using online platforms, chatbots, AI, and mobile technology.
5. Clear, Established Hiring Processes
Companies need to have a process in place and follow it through. From competency interviews to automated screening options, there are many tools for the modern day recruiter to use in their hiring process to identify top candidates.
6. Technology Awareness
Recruiters are required to be conversant with technology platforms that can be used for recruitment. Trend analysis must be considered for the generation from which we recruit our employees. Knowledge on search-based recruiting and AI-driven hiring are some areas to be aware of.
7. Prioritization of The Candidate Experience
It is important to treat every candidate well, especially because those who aren’t ideal for one position may be perfect for the next and also because even a rejected candidate has the power to influence potential candidates in the job market.
8. Planning the Process Around the Candidate's Point Of View
You need to think like a candidate and understand to look at the 360 degree view will enable to selecting the right tools to achieve the objective/s.
9. Greater Efficiency, But Decreased Humanization
Cover letters are outdated in this era, resumes are often computer-read by algorithms programmed to focus on the key words in selections. It’s more efficient, but less humanized.
by Rangana Prasad Naotunna
References
Council, F.H.R. (2019) Council post: Nine big changes that have shaped the modern recruiting process, Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2019/02/22/nine-big-changes-that-have-shaped-the-modern-recruiting-process/?sh=79f22a4f6bae (Accessed: March 29, 2023).
This article provides a good analogy between the motor industry and the human resources function, emphasizing the importance of treating candidates like customers in today's competitive job market. Overall, this article is a good starting point for exploring the importance of candidate experience in recruitment but could benefit from more depth and specificity in its recommendations.
ReplyDeleteNoted your suggestions
DeleteHi Rangana , Yor topics are entertaining us . The main stages of a full cycle recruitment process include: preparing, sourcing, screening, selecting, hiring, and onboarding. Advertisements are the most popular and very much preferred source of external source of recruitment. The job vacancy is announced through various print and electronic media with a specific job description and specifications of the requirements. The goal of your recruiting process should be to attract top performers and start building strong relationships with them — engaging them with your company from the first touch. It's crucial because A-players have a vision of what they want to accomplish, both in their personal lives and in their careers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your perspective Nilushi! While i agree that organizations must develop relationship with the top talent, it is equally vital to treat the others alike. Gone are the days when companies build PR on paper adverts and sponsorships alone. Today word-of-mouth has become the biggest maker or breaker and technology has increase its impact through giving an outlet to share experiences with a far larger audience.
DeleteHi Rangana, Recruitment has come a long way in recent years, thanks to advancements in technology and changes in the job market (Sharma, 2010). Today's recruiters are leveraging AI-powered tools to sift through large volumes of resumes and identify top candidates, saving time and improving the accuracy of the selection process. However, it's important to remember that technology should not replace human interaction and empathy in the recruitment process
ReplyDeleteValid argument. It is always better to have a human connection but at the rate the world is moving, candidates have become very picky. the moment a company take time to get back on results of an interview, they tend to go for another job. Staying away from technological tools as they are lacking human touch, will only harm the organization. Therefore may I suggest that we first investigate the needs of today's candidates and then look to find a acceptable balance between human touch and technology? I hope that fair.
DeleteHi Rangana, Thank you for your informative blog article. I have a question What strategic approaches can recruiters implement to prioritize the needs of candidates and provide exceptional candidate experiences in modern-day recruitment, considering the customer-centric nature of the job market?
ReplyDeleteThat is a tricky question. Let me explain why. A candidate's basic need will be to get the job. As a recruiter you cant always ensure that but you can make sure the candidate gets to know if he/she was selected or not, giving them the opportunity not be hung up waiting on one company. There are many tools using AI technology that help speed up shortlisting, analyzing interviews based on behavior and responses. However, i am all for prioritizing candidate experience which will leave them feeling valued even at times they wre not selected. Hope I did some justice through my reply.
DeleteI totally agree with the facts you have elaborated. Simply put, when the customer is king, it means that the customer is the focus and central driver of your business. In the end, it’s the customer who keeps your business afloat. With no customer, there’s no business. And with no business, there’s no paycheck to take home. A successful business is built and maintained on the foundation of satisfied customers.
ReplyDeleteHi Rangana, Recruitment of employees is very important factor, as it directly affect employee retention. Recruiting the right candidate will ensure a longer relationship between employer and employee and thus reduce employee turnover.
ReplyDeleteHi Rangana , it is very interesting to go through with your ideas and like to add few thoughts of me when it comes to hiring and recruitments of employees . Hiring the right person at the right time can have a significant impact on an organization's success in a competitive market. It can give the organization a competitive advantage, foster innovation, increase productivity, improve employee retention, and build a positive organizational culture. This can help the organization stand out from its competitors and attract customers and clients.
ReplyDelete