Staffing Agencies Provide Hiring Expertise After The Pandemic
COVID-19 changed the job market for accounting roles, just like it impacted every aspect of business. Businesses were forced to adjust their hiring processes. Many assumed it would be temporary. Now businesses realize the hiring changes may be here to stay, but many aren’t prepared.
According to LinkedIn, 81% of professionals agree virtual recruiting will continue post-Covid. With digital recruiting here to stay, your company should assess its hiring methods. A recruitment process that is functional doesn’t necessarily mean it’s effective.
The pandemic won’t last forever, but the impacts of COVID-19 to recruitment and hiring will remain for the foreseeable future.
This article explains the changes to hiring processes, and how to position your business to succeed.
The Hiring Challenges You Face Now
According to LinkedIn, the demand for accountants and related roles is higher than usual this year. Three of the top 10 job postings are for financial services: tax specialists, tax preparers, and tax associates.
With so many jobs to choose from, employers will be competing against each other to hire the best talent. Your recruitment strategy needs to be strong. A staffing agency can help.
Hiring Process in the New Normal
Experts agree there won’t be a single moment or metric that defines the end of the pandemic. Our return to normal life will be a slow, gradual transition.
As business operations return to normal, companies who reduced staff will be hiring again. But the recruitment process – like everything – will be different. Here is what you can expect in the new normal.
Virtual Interviewing Has Advantages and Challenges
Face-to-face interviews have been limited or prohibited during COVID-19. This will continue even as restrictions ease, bringing both advantages and challenges with it.
When they run smoothly, the advantages of virtual interviews can’t be denied. No need to book conference rooms or arrange travel plans. However, technical glitches can derail an interview before it even starts.
Applicants and members of the hiring teams are in different locations, sometimes across time zones. Software can glitch. Hardware can fail. Consider whether your HR team has the time and knowledge to manage the needs of virtual interviews. If not, think about what you can do to get your team up to speed with virtual interviewing.
Screening Candidates Will Take Longer
Screening candidates will be more challenging than in the past, especially for accounting job openings. According to GoingConcern, many accountants were terminated as businesses paused projects in the face of financial uncertainty. Layoffs mean it will be harder to track down the managers of your applicants to verify their qualifications.
Does your business have the staff and resources to properly screen job applicants? Resist the temptation to skimp on this step of the recruitment process. Doing so will save you in the short term, but it could cost you in the long term.
Making the wrong hire is an expensive mistake. A staffing agency can help you get it right the first time.
Many Candidates, But Difficulty Filling Positions
Businesses restructured operations and reduced staff at the height of the pandemic. There is a large pool of job seekers looking to re-join the workforce. In normal times, more job seekers would increase your odds of finding the best match for your position. However, these are not normal times.
Businesses are resuming operations and competing to fill positions, especially for the highly in-demand accountant jobs. Expect some candidates to move through your recruitment process, only to be snatched up before you make the hire. In the post-pandemic world, handling your own hiring means accepting some of your time will be wasted.
Re-Defining Compensation Packages For Remote Workers
Working from home will remain part of the business world, even after the pandemic ends. The specifics of what that looks like for different companies will vary. Some employees might work remotely full-time and others only part-time.
A switch to remote work means companies will need to define expectations around:
- Job descriptions and hours
- Team meetings and communication
- Technology needs of employees
- Performance evaluations and compensation
All businesses need to decide a fair compensation for employees working remotely. In the past, wages were based – at least partially – on the local cost of living. What does this mean for workers living hundreds of miles away? Staffing agencies are experienced in compensation and benefits packages. Talk to them.
Staffing Agencies Are Leaders In Online Recruitment
Before COVID-19, staffing agencies were leaders in workplace recruitment. That hasn’t changed.
They are well-equipped to find, screen, interview, and hire on behalf of businesses – both through traditional means and virtual methods. This can improve your business’ HR efficiency while reducing your costs.
Planning to Staff Accounting Roles Today
COVID-19 has changed the world in countless ways. But your business’s dedication to finding top talent has remained the same. So has Lakeshore Talent’s.
If you will be hiring for accounting positions, contact Lakeshore Talent. No matter what is happening in the world, we remain committed to being your partner in recruitment.