2021 … what’s in store

So I am little a late at the gates in terms of sharing my thoughts for the year ahead - but better late than never. COVID-19 has certainly changed the way we live and work and it has also impacted the way we hire talent. Digital transformation has accelerated, with organisations quickly moving to virtual platforms to conduct interviews. In-person recruitment and handshakes are returning, but the recruiting landscape has changed forever. This digitalisation has seen requirement practices move towards data driven hiring, with a broader acceptance of remote-friendly work environments, both of which are impacting talent acquisition in 2021.

Over the last year, we have learnt that it is possible to do end-to-end hiring and onboarding remotely. So we can expect the recruitment processes in 2021 to adopt a combination of in-person and remote processes. With the increased use of remote hiring and working, it is important for organisations to ensure they are providing a positive digital experience and sufficient human engagement to candidates, many of whom will not be experiencing the office and culture in person.

Organisations will continue to look for ways to reduce the time and cost of recruitment, and automation solutions will be a key part of the recruitment process. The initial phase of applicant screening is easy to do through digital platforms, while exploring the use these platforms in other stages of the lifecycle such as onboarding, preemployment screening, criminal history checks and reference checking will continue to evolve.

2021 will be a pivotal year for diversity, with many organisations recognising the true value and importance of diversity, and as a result we are seeing a renewed commitment to drive cultural change. Adopting the same approaches again and again might be easier, but this has its limitations. Organisations are seeking to broaden the search for candidates through tapping into different talent pools to ensure their organisations truely reflect the diversity of our community. 

As we move forward in 2021, organisations will need to tailor their talent acquisition strategy to ensure they are able to find, keep and grow the very best talent. As you think through your human capital needs for 2021 I am here to offer advice on how to leverage these trends for a great year ahead!.