Ways that COVID-19 Changed Recruiting & Hiring

COVID-19 changed recruiting Looking at the world since the rise of COVID-19, it’s safe to assume that things will never be the same again. After living with the virus for nearly two years, the pandemic has touched nearly every facet of our lives. Whether it be how we travel, work, or communicate, the pandemic has radically reshaped the modern world. When it comes to staffing and hiring, COVID-19 changed recruiting in many ways. 

With the post-pandemic world now seeming like the new normal, we know a lot more about exactly how the pandemic has altered the recruiting landscape. Looking to the future, it’s likely that these changes will remain long after the virus is gone. 

To help illuminate some lessons that M&F Talent learned over the past couple of years, we put together some key points on how COVID-19 changed recruiting and hiring.

Remote Work Positions COVID-19 changed recruiting

Prior to COVID-19, a very small portion of the population engaged in remote work jobs. Before the pandemic, independent contractors and outside salespeople were some of the only people to “work from home.” As lockdowns swept across the globe in early 2020, remote work positions went from being the exception to being the norm.

With the rapid shift to remote work positions, COVID-19 changed recruiting and hiring dramatically. For example, many of today’s leading candidates – in any industry – will no longer take a job unless they can work remotely. For recruiters, this new dynamic has created a challenging environment. In such instances, we try to find a middle ground between clients who want candidates to come to the office and candidates who want to work from home. 

New Required Technology Skills  

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a good portion of the working population could still “get by” without basic computer skills. As the pandemic overturned the business world, people had to quickly figure out how to stay connected without meeting in person. Naturally, this evolution quickly pushed companies into virtual workspaces and video meetings.

For those people unaccustomed to working online, the shift caused by the pandemic has been quite alarming. For people unable to pick up basic remote work tools like Zoom, Slack, and Hubspot, the new businesworld has been extremely challenging. At this point, the ability to use remote work tools is a basic requirement for most jobs. 

Interviewing in the COVID-19 World 

Prior to COVID-19, new candidates were rarely hired without a formal, in-person interview. However, with the shifting dynamics of the pandemic, it became a dangerous situation to bring candidates into the office for in-person discussions. As hiring parties pivoted with the new demands of COVID-19, remote interviews have quickly become commonplace.

Today, Zoom calls take place during almost every interview and vetting scenario. In certain cases, hiring parties conduct video applications where candidates answer a series of questions while a computer records their answers. These videos are then viewed by Human Resources departments and other decision-makers when assessing which candidates will make it onto the next round of interviews. 

The Vaccination Situation  

As the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released their recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, the news immediately impacted the business world. In turn, as private businesses came to adopt their own policies on vaccination requirements, it had massive reverberating effects for job searchers and employees alike. COVID-19 changed recruiting

Not only has the refusal to get vaccinated hindered people from finding new positions, but such decisions have also jeopardized people’s established jobs. As hiring parties and job searchers alike learn to navigate these new waters, people’s views on vaccinations have become an important factor in weighing compatibility. 

The vaccination topic is extremely sensitive for most recruiters and must be dealt with using the utmost care and sensitivity. 

Summary 

It can’t be denied that the COVID-19 pandemic has touched nearly every facet of the business world. When it comes to recruitment, the interviewing, vetting, and hiring process will never be the same again. Whether it be remote work positions, novel tech skills, or conflicts with vaccination requirements, COVID-19 changed recruiting in unprecedented ways. 

Talk to M&F Talent Today! 

If you have additional questions about finding a job during COVID-19, or you would like to learn more about our staffing service, please contact info@mandfconsultants.com