Top recruitment trends revealed

The top recruitment trends for next year have been revealed by Hays, including recruitment fuelled by data science and digital technology, VR that enhances a jobseeker’s profile and upskilling as a benefit.

Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director of Hays in Australia & New Zealand, explained, “The overall theme is that of technology changing historic norms in recruitment, from using data science analytics to help identify the most suitable person to the virtualisation of the screening process and the growing demand for high-skilled professionals in response to digitalisation technologies.

“These changes present opportunities for adaptable and innovative employers and jobseekers to stand out and secure top talent or their next job.”

Top trends for 2018:

• Recruitment remodelled to ‘Find & Engage’ – In 2018 a new model of recruitment will emerge, fuelled by technology, the dynamics of the digital world, data science and artificial intelligence. The historic and conventional ‘Advertise & Apply’ model (where active jobseekers at that point in time apply to advertised vacancies) will be superseded by a ‘Find & Engage’ approach. The ‘Find’ element of the equation involves using digital technology and data science analytics to reach deep into candidate pools and examine large amounts of data to prepare shortlists of the most suitable people (which span far wider than the community of active jobseekers), extrapolate meaningful patterns and gauge how open to new job opportunities a potential candidate is. The ‘Engage’ element puts the relationship back at the heart of recruitment to understand a candidate’s personal priorities and aspirations for a successful outcome. It’s a game-changing transformation for employers and external agencies alike.
• AI candidate screening – Automated and machine-learning algorithms will be used to screen CVs and communicate with candidates. While this is a complex AI challenge, in 2018 organisations will work on ‘training’ ontology to convert the semi-structured data of CVs and job descriptions into a consistent format for processing which, once implemented, will significantly accelerate the shortlisting process.
• Virtual reality (VR) to enhance a jobseeker’s profile – While some organisations provide VR tours that give jobseekers an indication of the workplace and culture, jobseekers too could start to embrace the technology to showcase skills and competencies to enhance their online profiles.

• Augmented reality (AR) – As AR becomes more mainstream, organisations will experiment with interactive candidate experiences. For example, AR could allow a candidate to walk through the workplace, participate in a mock client meeting or another relevant activity, and sit with an employee who talks about their typical day.
• Jobseekers enhance brand with video – Expect jobseekers to embed video content in their LinkedIn profile to supplement their personal brand. This will offer hiring managers and recruiters a deeper insight into their expertise and potential cultural fit.
• Automation to fuel temp jobs – Automation and technological advances will eliminate some jobs but also create new ones. In 2018, this will be most obvious in the creation of highly-skilled temporary and contract roles, which will require people with particular knowledge and expertise surrounding non-repetitive tasks, particularly when applied to planning, interacting with others or making decisions.
• Upskilling a key benefit – Given the current rate of technological change, knowledge and skills have a shorter use-by date. The top talent therefore look for roles offering upskilling and development, whether that’s through extra responsibilities, working on projects outside their original scope, mentoring or time to attend conferences or webinars. For employers, this can be a key benefit that will differentiate you from other organisations in 2018.
• Low-skilled in less demand, highly-skilled in greater demand – As digitalisation technologies (artificial intelligence, big data, online platforms and computers that communicate with each other) grow in prevalence in workplaces, low-skilled jobs will become less common while the number of highly-skilled jobs that involve non-routine duties will grow.

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