2018 is almost over, and most hiring has likely been tabled until the top of the new year. But when things ramp up in 2019, there are a few workforce trends that may impact your recruiting efforts. Here are 10 trends you should keep on your radar.
#1: Job hunters are mobile.
These days, Instagram isn’t the only thing that’ll make people scroll like crazy on their smartphones. 89% of job seekers use mobile platforms for their employment search. But sadly, many companies haven’t caught up with the wave, as many online applications are still pretty clunky on mobile.
#2: Paper resumes and applications become ancient artifacts.
Already a fairly pervasive trend, 2019 may be the final nail in the coffin for physical resumes and applications. Between online video and social media, candidates and companies alike are looking to tech for that all-important first impression.
#3: Job flexibility is favored.
Research shows that 65% of employees would pursue contract work if given the opportunity, and 68% of candidates say that the ability to work remotely impacted their decision to accept an offer. Employee expectations have changed, and the companies that recognize this shift will thrive.
#4: Candidates expect a good experience.
From the application to the final interview, candidates are increasingly less willing to settle for ho-hum hiring experiences. That means that going the extra mile by ensuring a super-simple way to apply and a respectful screening process is essential in 2019.
#5: Recruiting gets social.
A callback to the #2 trend on our list, paper resumes are history and digital recruiting is the future. Particularly in creative fields like art direction or writing, organizations will look more and more to social media, blogs and YouTube to find the perfect candidate out in the wild.
#6: Your employer brand matters more.
Job seekers always research companies before they apply, and if your organization has negative reviews for how it treats its people, you’ll likely scare off top talent before they even get in the door.
#7: Structured interviews are growing in popularity.
Because of the ever-changing regulations around hiring, many employers are switching to the structured interview, i.e., an interview in which the candidate is only asked a set of predetermined questions. This means that all applicants are queried on the exact same topics, in the exact same order, to ensure fairness across the board. Structured interviews are effective, objective and most importantly — legally defensible.
#8: Inbound recruiting is more essential.
Sure, HR can go out and look for qualified candidates, but with our current labor market, organizations are turning to strategies that bring candidates to them, i.e., inbound recruiting.
#9: There’s a stronger focus on “strategic alignment.”
90% of HR leaders know they need to be more strategic, but 49% of them aren’t quite sure how to get there. 2019 could be the year that closes that gap, as more organizations work to refine their hiring efforts to support business growth.
#10: HR shares the workload via “collaborative hiring.”
Collaborative hiring — a recruiting method in which both HR and other teams from throughout the organization work together to bring on talent — is predicted to really take off in 2019. It improves the quality of new hires, and greatly decreases turnover.