Each year, there is a new set of recruiting trends that emerge. Our technology recruiters will attest that it usually has something to do with new ways of using tech as part of the hiring or candidate assessment process. 2021 will be some of the same, but also very different. Tech trends such as remote work and video interviews have come to prominence, but a lot of how recruiting plays out in the coming year will be in reaction to the impact of the “beginning of the end” of the pandemic.
Here are 4 ways COVID could potentially affect recruiting in 2021:
HIRE BETTER TODAY
Video Interviews Are Here to Stay
Video interviews quickly became the go-to method for hiring because companies didn’t have the option to meet with candidates face to face. Expect video interviews to become a standard tool for interviewing candidates. For some companies, it will be used to whittle down the list of candidates and then meet the finalist(s) in person (when it’s possible to do so). Others will continue to use it as their primary means to interview candidates.
Hiring Will Eventually Spike
While we don’t know exactly when it will happen, hiring will likely spike at some point in 2021. Once we know more about the vaccine and public safety, you can expect many companies to go on a hiring spree. The need for recruiting assistance will increase greatly. Expect this to happen closer to the end of the year.
More Consideration to Freelancers, Consultants and Contract Workers
One thing we learned from COVID-19 was the value of flexibility. Many companies will find themselves in a position where they will need to hire more people, but they also are uncertain about how things will play out long term. To fill this gap and take a more conservative approach to hiring, companies can hire freelancers and contract workers for the short term until things stabilize.
Upskill Over Hiring?
Hiring budgets may be limited in the first part of 2021. Companies with limited resources may turn to upskilling and promoting from within over hiring, to stay competitive until they have stabilized. This can help companies address skill gaps.
More Insights From Our Technology Recruiters
4 Recruiting Mistakes Companies Are Making During COVID
Hiring on Hold? 5 Things You Can Still Do to Support Recruiting Efforts
5 Recruiting Tips for Attracting a Multigenerational Workforce
IQ PARTNERS is an Executive Search & Recruitment firm supporting clients across the country. We help companies hire better, hire less & retain more. We have specialist teams of recruiters in Executive Search / Board & C-Suite, Technology, Media, Digital & Marketing, Accounting & Finance, Financial Services & Insurance, Cannabis, Startup, Data Science, Consumer, eCommerce & Retail, Operations & HR, Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Engineering, Legal & Professional Services, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Non-Profit & Sustainability, and Sales. IQ PARTNERS has its head office in Toronto. Click here to view current job openings and to register with us.
