It is no secret that 2020 shook up the world, with huge impacts on hiring efforts. Companies and corporations that were previously operating in a traditional work environment soon became hybrid or completely virtual, while other companies saw layoffs and furloughs at rates not seen since 2008. As more and more people are getting vaccinated and attempting to put the pandemic behind them, the job market is following. There continues to be pain points for employers looking to hire the best talent possible within the slowly evolving job market. 

If you are an employer struggling to adjust to virtual hiring, there are a few things you can do to ensure you are meeting your company’s needs and new hire needs. Our number one tip for easing the transition is to keep communication lines clear and open. 

Virtual Work Environments Are Here to Stay

It has become increasingly popular for many companies to offer remote work environments to their current employees and new hires. Businesses are finding that their employees are maintaining or increasing their productivity while cutting expenses associated with traditional work environments, such as office space, travel, maintenance, office supplies, etc. 

With offices closed, hiring efforts are being conducted virtually. With the uncertainty of the current pandemic, companies are opting to meet over zoom meetings instead of meeting over lunch or in team meetings. An added bonus to this new standard is that businesses are expanding their talent pool. When working remotely, employees can live anywhere with a secure internet connection, meaning the best talent can be sourced from all over the US, if not the world. 

Try partnering with a search firm.

Search firms quickly adapted during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis to continue to be able to provide exceptional hiring services while catering to the need for virtual hiring with national reach regarding available talent. 

Here are three ways employers can adjust to virtual hiring and onboarding:

1. Identify your hiring gaps and needs. 

Many companies are experiencing surges in work volume since the world has restructured during the pandemic. The first step in hiring in a post-COVID-19 world is to identify where you need extra help. Speak with your managers and team leads about where they need the help. This is not a performance review of the team or manager, but an opportunity for the team to compile thoughts on where the work gaps are and if hiring additional employees would be beneficial. From there, you can gain a better understanding of the budget you have for new talent and the specific talent you need. 

2. Create seamless onboarding for your new virtual and hybrid employees.

Before the pandemic shut down countless businesses, onboarding was a process that was conducted in person. Now more than ever, it is extremely important to create streamlined onboarding procedures that allow your new hires to become familiar with your internal processes in a virtual format. Don’t forget to lean on technology. Applications such as Zoom and Slack create an easy way for your team to communicate about needs, struggles, and maintain some format of watercooler talk. If you need help constructing your virtual onboarding, check out our recent blog on streamlining your onboarding process. 

3. Allow your employees to have flexibility.

With many employees working from home, they are now working two jobs: one with your company, and potentially one as a parent. Not to mention, they are working in environments that are not always silent or chaos-free. Allowing your employees to work on a flexible schedule, with the expectation that work will be completed in a timely manner, will be appealing to many individuals and boost your company into a top consideration. 

Continuing to Move Forward

Virtual and hybrid environments appear to be sticking around and becoming the new normal. Don’t let these new working standards derail your hiring plans. Working with a talent sourcing firm and opening your talent pool up to other areas will ensure your company is getting the best candidates for the positions you are looking to hire for, virtually or in person. Connect with us with any questions you might have. We are more than happy to help.