The COVID-19 pandemic threw the entire world for a loop, not just in a medical and health sense but also from an economic and business standpoint. To keep from totally shutting down, companies adapted to the situation and had their employees work from home. This led to a change in how businesses found people for their vacant positions. Everyone embraced this shift from face-to-face recruitment to virtual hiring – from recruitment firms and human resource (HR) departments to headhunters.
Tools Used to Make Recruitment Easier
Businesses have technology to thank as it helped transition almost everything into the virtual setting. Recruiting the right people via online mediums is not new, but the need to stay home has pushed the envelope on this one.
Businesses and recruitment firms upped their game when the need arose. They used technology for more than just posting want ads and hiring notices. If you haven’t done the shift yet but plan to do it soon, then here’s a list of recruitment tools that were either developed or leveraged during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Chatbots
One technological wonder that both recruiters and HR departments embraced when the need to hire remotely arose is the chatbot. You’ll be surprised to know that the use of this tech started in 2018, way before COVID-19 reared its ugly head. The use of chatbots became popular then, and even more so during lockdowns because these allowed hiring firms and departments to communicate with interested candidates without going to the office.
Applicant Tracking Systems
Also called an ATS, this system aids the recruitment process by helping recruiters and HR managers keep track of applications. Sales recruiters, technical job recruiters, and other similar hiring bodies use this tool, so they don’t lose track of all the people applying for jobs. An ATS provides support in posting jobs, managing emails, and reporting about the number of daily applicants.
Assessment Tools
The use of assessment tools in hiring talents sped up the process significantly. The software used for these depends on the type of screening a company needs. For example, some tools allow a recruiter to determine a candidate’s English proficiency. Some can help determine a person’s skills, such as experience in hotels or skills that would be beneficial to a concierge role, with these results for example a Hospitality recruitment agency in Shropshire (or elsewhere more relevant) can determine if someone is the right fit to add to their list of potential employees available to be seconded to a client in need of specific staff.
File and Document Sharing
A file-sharing tool is essential for companies requiring candidates to show samples of their work or submit answers to tests. Most companies use free sharing tools, like Google Docs and Sheets, while some opt for the paid ones that keep files and information from spilling out to others. Some of these tools even have chat and collaboration options integrated into them.
Moving Forward with Technology in Hiring
These are just several of the tools people used and continue to use when hiring people. Whether the post is for a remote worker or for someone who must report to the office, all these tools provide ample support in speeding up the hiring process. Other tools that have become standard for hiring and operations include video chatting and conferencing, collaboration, time tracking, and project management tools.
