Hesitant to Hire in the Midst of a Pandemic? Don't Be!
Listen, this is our third blog on the topic of the infamous “coronavirus” - we know that things are getting to be pretty unsettling and scary and it’s really shaken up not only the country, but the world. From swine flu to zika virus to ebola, to COVID-19 - there’s always something floating around and, to be fair, there is definite cause for concern. Drastic measures and closures aren’t always a bad thing. What is bad is when your company takes a negative hit. The chances are, if you’re hiring you’re either looking to grow, have had someone quit, have let someone go, or can’t handle all of the necessary work associated with the details of this new job. AKA, you need someone….Now!
While this can certainly cause setbacks in specific areas here and there, it shouldn’t put a damper on your hiring needs. While it may be tough to bring in candidates and conduct interviews, it really doesn’t have to be. Plus, the market always bounces back...You don’t want to wait too long and then be without that great hire. So, don’t stop. Yes, we said don’t stop the hiring process because of this pandemic. But, before we tell you why you should, let’s look at a few facts/sources first so we can back up these claims…
The online jobs marketplace ZipRecruiter says help-wanted ads for cleaners are on track to surge 75% in March compared to a year earlier. By contrast, they were just 24% higher in January. (MarketWatch)
What might help keep the labor market stable is temporary employment for the U.S. Census. The government is aiming to hire 500,000 people to canvass the country in the next few months for the once-in-a-decade Census taking. (MarketWatch)
Recruiters PageGroup and Robert Walters as well as global tech giants Google, Amazon and Facebook have said they were moving job interviews and other interactions online in response to the outbreak. The epidemic may have even made part of the recruiters’ job simpler. (New York Post)
Though some industries, like traveling, have put a temporary halt on hiring, Glassdoor found that between Feb. 29 and March 7, the number of job postings in government, biotech and pharmaceuticals, health care and the nonprofit industry tripled in the U.S. as a direct response to the virus outbreak. (CNBC)
When looking specifically at job listings that included “coronavirus”, “2019-nCoV” and “COVID-19”, Glassdoor saw that within one week postings with this language increased from 100 to 300 in the U.S. Globally, job postings with this language increased from 254 to 565 over the same one-week period. (CNBC)
While you may be tempted to put your job search on hold during the coronavirus outbreak, SHRM’s Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. says that would be a mistake. Other people who continue their job search may land the job that was right for you if you continued, he explained in the most recent edition of #GetHired. Additionally, recruiters say it’s mostly business as usual despite concerns about the coronavirus. The only change is that more interviews may be conducted by video rather than in person. (LinkedIn)
If you can read between the lines of those facts, basically certain industries are booming right now and others not so much. But, given the current state of things, it’s not such a bad (or unusual thing). The market is always fluctuating - jobs that are rampant one day, week, month are obsolete another. BUT, all of that aside...there are still positions that need to be filled and that will be filled this week, this month, or even today.
How Can I Execute this Process without Running the Risk of Sickness?
We’re glad you asked.. Obviously moving forward the way things are being done has and will most likely change and continue to change. That’s just the fact of the matter. We are sort of in uncharted waters with this new COVID-19 virus and we must act, plan, and accustom ourselves to this new way of working. Honestly this couldn’t be a better time for this pandemic as we are so digitized nowadays that we can do virtually anything from home or behind a screen.
While obviously job seekers and hiring managers alike want to meet with and sit down with their prospects, we just can’t risk that at this point in time. SO, video chatting/conferencing is your friend. And, if you decide to use us (aka ApplicantOne) as your hiring solution you can take all of the precaution necessary to move through the hiring process!
How?
We take on the intimidating front end of the hiring process. With our advanced recruiting technology partnered with our experienced team of recruiters you have access to:
Job Posting and Advertising
Video Interviews
Behavioral and Cognitive Assessments
A Personal Dossier
And more!
Plus, depending on the nature of your hiring needs, we can recommend multiple options for you! Whether you’re hiring one person, multiple people, or are trying to fill that big C-Level position - we’ve got you covered. And, you never come in contact with us or the candidate aka no spread of funky viruses.
Want to learn even more? Request a Demo today with a member of our sales team.