The work of recruiting and hiring new talent can be difficult to do well. In addition, tools and tactics evolve over time as well as HR trends.

In larger companies, HR staff are often responsible for a number of functions including the recruiting and hiring of new employees. While there are many aspects of these functions that are well established and never really change, there are other dynamics that do change or didn't exist previously.

Top Hiring Trends in 2018

Some trends for hiring employees have been increasing in influence for a number of years and HR and employment experts make it a point to predict these each year. 

The social media platform LinkedIn released its  2018 Global Recruiting Trends report this year and it noted the top trends based on survey responses. 

According to LinkedIn, these trends were identified based on interviews and a survey of 9,000 recruiters and hiring managers worldwide. The top three trends were:

• Diversity
• New interviewing tools
• Data

Here is a brief overview of these three factors in recruiting and hiring in 2018.

The Importance of Diversity

According to LinkedIn,

"78% of talent professionals and hiring managers say that diversity is the top trend impacting how they hire."

What this means in actual practice is an increased level of intentionality and strategy in recruiting. Diversity in this sense is primarily focused on ethnic and gender considerations. Part of the problem, however, is that many of the respondents report "that recruiters and hiring managers can’t find enough diverse candidates."

While this may be due to recruiting tactics that are no longer in sync with changing demographics, or simply a matter of perception, most companies agree that a diverse workforce is beneficial economically as well as culturally.

It is estimated that by 2022 the workforce is expected to be made up of 47% women and 40% minorities.

An article from Forbes notes that one of the keys is to,

"Reconsider how you define diversity. Gender and racial and ethnic diversity may be visible, but ensuring other kinds of diversity such as educational background, geography, economics, family status, disability...  is also important."

Using New Interviewing Tools

A second major trend noted in the LinkedIn report is that of the changing interviewing process. Over half the respondents in the report said that new interview tools are a top trend impacting how they hire.

The report lists five of the top used or recommended tools and tactics for improving upon the more traditional candidate interviewing model:

• Online soft skills assessments. These measure traits such as teamwork and curiosity, while giving a more holistic view of candidates earlier in the process.

• Job auditions. Companies actually pay candidates to work so that they can observe skills in action. 

• Casual interviews. These are typically done over a meal and can offer a unique look into a candidate’s character. 

• Virtual reality (VR). Candidates can be immersed in simulated 3-D environments to test their skills. 

• Video interviews. These can be recorded or live, and can access a broader talent pool in far less time.

Candidate interviews and vetting has traditionally been a treacherous path between impressions and intuition, and actual skills and a CV. Tools and tactics that can improve the chances of finding and hiring the best fit for your company and the job are worth pursuing.

The Value of Data

Recruiting and hiring new employees is primarily a human interaction. Human Resources are called that for a reason obviously. But relevant data can provide insights and support for our "human-based" decision making.

Using data to guide hiring decisions is not new. But, according to LinkedIn,

"...what is new is the volume of data available and the speed with which it can be analyzed. What’s new is that data can be used to predict hiring outcomes, not just track them. What’s new is that data can power machines to make smarter recruiting decisions for you, a.k.a. Artificial intelligence (AI)."

The top uses for data in the recruiting and hiring process are to:

• Increase retention of new hires
• Evaluate gaps in skills
• Create better candidate offers

The LinkedIn report points out that cutting edge companies are assessing every bit of data they have in order to compete. And, similar to crafting a social media strategy or an events strategy, these businesses are crafting talent intelligence strategies, as well.

Hiring is a Vital Function in Your Business

It's not too late to begin making adjustments or improvements to your current recruiting and hiring processes. In fact, this could be a perfect time to review them with the goal of updating and improving your overall employee development practices.

In addition to a growing and demanding role in recruiting, hiring, and continually training employees, the HR management staff is responsible for other functions they are typically tasked with such as payroll management, tax filings, employee records compliance, and so forth.

Considering alternatives such as outsourcing is increasingly becoming a cost-effective and strategic option. Accuchex can help you in managing your HR needs, payroll processes, and staying on top of compliance demands. Get your Free Download: Payroll Outsourcing Guide to help you make an informed decision or call Accuchex Payroll Management Services at 877-422-2824.