Those employers who have been lucky enough not to be forcibly closed or hit by the mother of all downturns have been getting used to life with COVID-19. A big part of that, for organisations with skills gaps to fill, has been the adoption of remote recruitment.
As businesses change how they operate, many have been making use of the latest technology to interview candidates and make hiring decisions without ever meeting the hopefuls in person. Like remote working, it’s expected that this could be here to stay after the restrictions are eased and even become, dare we say, the ‘new normal’, as employers realise the benefits that remote recruitment can bring.
The benefits of remote recruitment
1. Cost
Recruitment is an expensive business. In fact, a Glassdoor study found that the average cost of hiring a new employee in the UK is £3,000. Clearly then, any measures that you can take to reduce that cost, particularly for small businesses, should be taken. By conducting remote interviews, you can remove the travel costs for candidates that employers often reimburse and take costs such as meeting room hire out of the equation.
2. Time
Another potential benefit of remote recruitment is the amount of time it can shave off the process. Finding new hires, particularly for skilled positions, can take weeks and even months. The same Glassdoor study found that the average time it takes to hire a new employee is 27.5 days, so the fewer restrictions you have on timing, the better.
It can be much easier to schedule video calls rather than face-to-face meetings as it removes the issue of travel. It also allows the interview to be conducted in a candidate’s lunch break, for example, rather than them having to book a day off to attend in person, all of which takes time. This convenience also increases the likelihood of the best candidates being able and willing to attend.
3. Location
In face-to-face interviews, the geographic location of the employer and the candidates can become a barrier, as candidates may be reluctant to travel long distances when they’re not assured of getting the role.
Remote recruitment removes that problem by allowing candidates to attend interviews from their own homes. This can potentially widen the talent pool for the employer, as candidates who live long distances away can apply for the job knowing that they’ll only have to travel if they’re successful in the interview.
4. Technology
We’ll not mention any names, but video calling technology has a reputation for being unreliable. However, new applications, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, are surprising many doubters with just how well they work. That said, the technology is only as good as your internet connection, so it’s best to check that the employer and the candidate both have a connection that is capable of running the application seamlessly.
Helping businesses to keep hiring
At Linguistica Recruitment, we believe remote recruitment is a viable and very workable solution for businesses with skills gaps to fill. During this time, we’re continuing to work with businesses across the south coast to find the talented bilingual candidates they need.
For more information about how we can help you, please call 02392 987 765 or email info@linguistica-recruitment.com today.