As we head into the new year it’s important to recognize that recruiting is quickly changing. Remote and hybrid workplaces exploded during and after the pandemic, policies are always evolving, and the employer/employee dynamic is quickly becoming something entirely new. Finding employees using traditional methods is now producing mixed results — and it’s fallen to HR teams to determine how to find talent. Fortunately, there are a number of methods that can help you grow your team without wasting resources. Let’s go over how to find talent in this new job market, with four tips to help you expand your organization. 

Keep Things Flexible

If a job needs to get done no matter what, and you’re in need of help, it’s important to recognize that you may not find your dream full-time candidate right away. Hiring part-time work can increase the number of people working on your team, but if your need is pressing gig-workers are the way to go. With the increasing number of hybrid and remote workplaces, freelancers and gig workers have also grown in number. In 2021, the percentage of U.S. workers who are non-temporary freelance workers rose to over 35% from 33% in 2020. 

Finding highly-qualified freelancers isn’t as easy as posting to job aggregate websites and waiting. It’s important to source gig workers using methods that ensure you’re receiving qualified aid. Sites that are tailored to host freelance professionals are effective, but how to find talent can be simpler — focus on referrals.

Employee Referrals Will Bolster Your Team

While a good hiring plan is more than a simple word of favor, employee referrals are often the most effective way to find talent in the current economy. For years, organizations stumped on how to find talent have turned to employee referrals in order to hire quality employees. A recent report showed that over 80% of employers rated referrals over all other sources for finding above-average candidates — a testament to the knowledge of current and former employees. Using your human resources is, after all, the key to any successful Human Resources team. 

If your organization doesn’t already have a referral plan, putting one into place should be a top priority. Make sure to reward employees who refer a successful candidate. Doing so will incentivize more referrals while placing emphasis on high-quality referrals over a large quantity. You’ll be seeing team growth in no time.  

Create Recruitment Focused Social Media Accounts

When applicants are doing research on companies they are interested in, they often turn to that organization’s social media. Unfortunately, most company social media accounts are more focused on advertising or promoting brand awareness than anything else — a poor reflection of what it’s like to work for said organization. Creating a social media account tailored to interested applicants can make it easy to nurture interest, and in some cases communicate directly with potential applicants. Make sure to include as much necessary information as possible, and focus on maintaining the connections with talent that are made along the way.

Make Use Of Talent Acquisition Tools

Investing in tools like recruitment software that bolster your HR team can lead to noticeable increases in hiring numbers over time. Programmatic job advertising platforms like pandoIQ intelligently automate to make sure your job listings end up in the right place and find the most qualified talent. Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) tools are one of the best ways to ensure that talent is never fully rejected, creating the opportunity for them to be contacted if their services would benefit your organization. 

Artificial intelligence software, which has become more advanced and versatile over the last decade, is the backbone of most of today’s top hiring tools. Giving software the ability to learn and grow allows it to wield greater flexibility, and provide more value in return. 

AI Chatbots are currently the most widely used AI recruitment software. Made to provide customers and potential candidates alike with information, a good chatbot can hold conversations at an almost human level, holding the attention of interested parties and increasing the chances that they apply. Job ad placement and optimization software, AI-focused job aggregates, and a variety of other resource-saving AI tools are out there to help you figure out how to find talent best. All you need to do is look for them in the right place — and fortunately for you, you’re already there!