S&I Trends for 2022: Key Skills for Recruiters and Hiring Managers in the New Climate

As we start the new year, it is a common time for personal and professional reflection. We all look to evaluate the previous year, what’s happened, and set future goals for ourselves. A common professional goal is to get a new role where you’re happier, have progressed seniority-wise and/or financially. Recruiters are in high demand during the new year with many looking to recruiters to assist them in landing their new position and can therefore be an overwhelming time for them. The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the world of work; in how we work as well as how we recruit. It is therefore essential that recruiters and hiring managers equip themselves with the new skills they’ll need to successfully place candidates in roles.   

Knowing the Skills in High Demand  

As previously mentioned, due to the pandemic, the working landscape has changed dramatically. Industries and skills that were once the forerunners have been overtaken by areas such as digital marketing, cloud computing, risk management, and software and app development. In knowing which skills are most wanted by organisations, recruiters can begin looking for relevant talent to meet the needs and close the gaps, rather than looking for talent in areas where there are few job openings.  

Effective Cross-platform Communication 

At the height of the pandemic, most interviews and assessments were taking place virtually, in compliance with the government’s laws and COVID-19 restrictions and obligations. Now, however, many organisations are implementing a hybrid working system, meaning that for candidates, there may be an option to be interviewed or assessed in person or online. Due to this, it is paramount for recruiters and hiring managers to establish what the best fit is for candidates, based on different factors such as safety, the necessities of the role, and resources. Furthermore, organisations may need to consider the platforms that they are using to conduct the hiring process. For example, looking into new tools and applications that are designed specifically for the recruitment process such as Slack. Many organisations can get stuck in their current ways or detrimentally complacent and remain using platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. However, there are upcoming application advancements that could be more suitable and allow for a smoother and more effective virtual recruitment process.  

Self-awareness and Critical Thinking 

Lacking self-awareness (knowing yourself, your preferences, and your abilities) may make recognising others’ capabilities more challenging. As a recruiter or hiring manager, it is useful to earnestly learn to know your ambitions, attributes, and social boundaries so that this knowledge can drive serve you inside the office and allow you to help candidates in their own self-discovery. This will also help candidates fine-tune what exactly they want and need from a role and the wider company consequently increasing the likelihood of candidates receiving offers. 

Patience and Endurance with Tasks and People 

Mundane tasks such LinkedIn searches can easily result in boredom, demotivation and subsequently, burnout. As both a recruiter and hiring manager, it is good to be aware and mentally prepared for the different difficult scenarios that can arise from interacting with candidates. For instance, some candidates may receive a job offer and not take it, leaving the process to be started all over again. Another possible scenario is that the people you approach will not be interested in the position you have to offer. It is also common for both candidates and clients to stretch the conversation for months before deciding to step back. Having your plans cancelled and paperwork becoming futile can be quite irritating. To combat this, be prepared for this potential reality and be mindful not to take it personally. Having this mindset can help stop the frustration from brewing further and transpiring into dissatisfaction within your role as a recruiter or hiring manager.

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