Since 2020, the hiring landscape has changed shape, giving employees more flexibility and power than ever before. While remote work and flexible schedules are now the norm, employers are grappling with new challenges, struggling to adapt and retain talent in the employee-driven market.
However, despite the shifting expectations, the outlook for job seekers is still challenging. According to a recent report from CNBC, even with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, many express feeling hopeless and frustrated in their never-ending search for work.
No matter which side you're journeying, the hiring process seems to be burdensome for anyone who finds themselves a part of it.
What are the biggest hiring challenges to face in 2024?
1. Poor Communication
- Employer’s Perspective: A lack of clear processes can cause delays that extend hiring deadlines.
- Candidate’s Perspective: Long communication gaps create confusion and make candidates feel undervalued.
2. High Volume of Applicants
- Employer’s Perspective: Sorting through hundreds of resumes can be overwhelming, especially when many are not a good fit.
- Candidate’s Perspective: Candidates often feel like their applications disappear into a black hole, never receiving a response due to the sheer volume of applications.
3. Lack of Transparency in Compensation and Benefits
- Employer’s Perspective: Employers may hesitate to disclose salaries upfront for a variety of reasons including, waiting for salary approvals, preparing for negotiations, etc.
- Candidate’s Perspective: Without pay and benefits information early in the process, candidates worry they are wasting time and that expectations won’t align later. This causes them to move on.
4. Overreliance on AI and automated Systems
- Employer’s Perspective: While applicant tracking systems (ATS) help manage large applicant pools, they may filter out qualified candidates due to overly strict algorithms.
- Candidate’s Perspective: Candidates feel overlooked or unfairly rejected by automated systems, which often don’t capture the full picture of their experience or skills.
5. Onboarding Challenges
- Employer’s Perspective: Even after hiring, employers often struggle with smooth onboarding processes, which can hinder new employees from getting up to speed quickly.
- Candidate’s Perspective: Poor onboarding experiences make candidates question their decision to join and can lead to early turnover.
How are companies solving their hiring issues?
Employers who invest in crafting clear, detailed job descriptions and use collaboration between HR and hiring managers ensure their job postings align with actual needs. This saves time and misunderstanding in the future.
Companies that successfully tackle their hiring issues adopt and manage automated screening tools, simplify initial interviews by going virtual, and disclose salary ranges upfront. Additionally, some streamline processes all together by utilizing workforce management partners.
What is workforce management?
Workforce management companies are known for easing the recruitment process for businesses and job seekers. Like hiring and staffing agencies, they spend their time connecting talent with business, but with a bigger focus on candidate fit and business needs. It often depends on the specific needs and challenges of your business to know if workforce management solutions will work for you.
On a final note, companies that invest in clear communication, leverage automated tools effectively, and embrace workforce management solutions are better equipped to navigate these hurdles. Staffing and workforce management agencies, in particular, offer valuable support by aligning business needs with the right talent, ensuring a smoother hiring journey for everyone involved.