Recruitment is an essential component of any organisation, but it has become increasingly challenging in recent times.
The huge changes over the past few years have of course had a huge impact. Brexit has undoubtedly had a profound effect on the UK’s recruitment landscape. Since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, the number of EU workers coming to the UK has decreased as well as many leaving. The Covid-19 pandemic led to many people losing their jobs and a huge amount of people re-training in a new skill. The stay at home rule allowed people time to reflect, which for many resulted in different life directions. Once the world start going back to ‘normal’ there was a huge surge of jobs and not enough people to fill them.
The days of ‘I’m so lucky to have a job’ became ‘we are so lucky to have these employees’
Recruitment is a crucial component of any business, and companies must find ways to overcome the challenges they face. Salary still remains a huge factor but other things need to be considered. Invest in training and development programmes to upskill current employees. This can help to fill any skills gaps in the organisation and reduce the reliance on external recruitment.
Flexible working is a hot topic but also an important one. Treat everyone as individuals. Not everyone can work the same ways.
Explore new talent pools by reaching out to underrepresented groups in the workforce. By diversifying recruitment efforts, companies can tap into a wider pool of talent and fill any skills gaps in their organisation.
Most companies’ recruiting processes have room for improvement. Making a great first impression is crucial. Irrespective of the outcome, you want everyone you interview to go home and tell their friends and family what a great experience it was. Remember recruitment is always a two-way street.
Businesses can overcome these challenges and attract and retain the skilled workers they need. It might just need a bit more time and dedication to get there.
