Let’s think about this from the candidate’s perspective. Typically, when we think of places or activities that we would recommend to someone we know, we do so because as an individual, we had a positive experience. Whether that means the food was excellent, the show was entertaining or the service was top notch, we want others to have the same positive experience as we did. The same can absolutely be said in the job market. Candidates are only going to refer their colleagues or acquaintances to a company or Recruiter if they feel the experience they had was a positive one. So how do hiring managers ensure that we have a pool of talent that we can garner referrals from? Simple, make a positive candidate experience a top priority for your hiring strategy.

Check out these simple and seemingly straight forward tips provided by RecruitingDaily.com to give your team the upper hand in creating a positive and welcoming candidate experience.

1. Engage job seekers in enjoyable conversation. This seems like a no-brainer but surprisingly many hiring Managers and Recruiters tend to keep conversations with prospective candidates as impersonal as possible. Where there can be a benefit to keeping the candidate relationship like any other business transaction, there is also a huge downside. It is basic human nature to trust those that make you feel at ease. Having easy and light conversations with your candidates can instantly make them feel more comfortable around you. This can even be achieved through personalized emails. Try to communicate in a friendly manner and ensure the candidates that you are always looking out for their best interest.
2. Respect the job seeker’s time. Time is valuable to everyone, including your job seekers. We all know how annoying it can be when we have an appointment set and it has to be cancelled or rescheduled last minute. If you make an appointment with a candidate, keep it. As you will be interviewing more and more candidates that are currently working elsewhere, it may be difficult for them to make the appointments or interviews in the first place so rescheduling or cancelling last minute can certainly put a bad taste in their mouth.
3. Keep job descriptions consistent. It is important to provide as much information up front in a job description posted online as possible. However, whether you include everything in the online ad or not, you must stay consistent with job details throughout the entire process. The information provided online should reflect what is discussed in the interview and pre-screenings. If something with the job changes, update your ads accordingly. This way the candidate already has a really good idea of what to expect when the interview process starts and isn’t in for any surprises along the way.
4. Respond clearly and within one week. Responding to candidates in a timely fashion may be the most important tip that is offered here. You have to remember that you are not the only person seeking out passive talent. It wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that your candidate has actually been contacted by 10 or more companies at the same time you reached out. With that said, staying in touch with your candidate is imperative. In the two extra days it takes for you to offer them the job, your competition may have already swooped in. Basically, you need to land the candidate before your competitor does.

By following these tips to improving the overall experience of your prospective candidates, you will find it much easier to not only fill current openings but also to fill your pipeline with experienced and eager referrals.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Many of you may already notice a few similar trends going into the new year. For one, Technology will continue to stand at the forefront for companies and applicants alike. The paper resume is becoming more and more scarce and obsolete and the need/desire for instant communication and gratification will only continue to increase. The advent and application of new technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) and text messaging capabilities in the recruiting, hiring and job search process will continue on an upward trajectory.

In addition, mobile traffic and usage when it comes to searching for jobs is only expected to grow. According to glassdoor.com, 45% of job seekers use a mobile device at least once per day in their job search and 89% use mobile platforms throughout the entire job search process. With this said, only 16% of applications are typically submitted via mobile. It is possible that with new technologies and the progression in smart phone capabilities that this too could be on the rise. Now is the time to beef up and improve the efficiency of not only your desktop platforms but your mobile platforms as well.

The long and short of it is simple, if you and your company are already paying close attention to these trends and understand their implications, you’re already a step ahead as we enter 2019. However, if that is not necessarily the case, do some research and try and determine where your recruiting process is missing the mark. Gone are the days of posting an ad and waiting for applications to pour in. Recruiters need to engage with potential candidates before, during and after the hiring process to cultivate a true relationship. This will, in turn, increase candidate retention and could even increase referral traffic!

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 450 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Today’s employment market is a candidate driven market allowing candidates more flexibility and potential job offers than they’ve had in the past 10 years. With the rebound from the 2009 recession, the market has changed from being saturated with talent who was under or unemployed, to a discernible talent shortage in most industries. Employers are struggling to attract and maintain talent in roles ranging from General Labor to Professionals. Undoubtedly, in addition to the strain on your operations the longer a vacancy exists the more costly it becomes both financially and towards workplace productivity.

How can you decrease your time to fill? Here are a few ways to increase your quality of candidate while decreasing your time to fill:

• Utilize your networks. The more people that are aware that your opening exists, the more likely you are to drive applicant traffic. Social networks, industry organizations, and your own staff can all work to help boost exposure to your position.
• Build a referral program. If you don’t already have a competitive referral program you’re behind the times. Referrals often produce a higher level of candidate and a longer length of employment than a traditional hire.
• Get in touch with passive candidates. Passive candidates are far less likely to be receiving multiple offers, have jumpy work history, or be lacking in skill sets. While it takes a little more digging to locate a passive candidate, the job offer process often times moves at a faster pace.
• Partner with a staffing firm. Most staffing firms do not require an exclusive agreement or any financial obligation unless you choose to hire a candidate that they present. Often times they have access to a number of candidates in confidential job searches who are not posting resumes online or applying to job postings. In addition, they are experts at locating those hard to find passive candidates.
• Be open to negotiations. Could paying a nominal amount more seal the deal before your candidate accepts an offer with your competitor? Absolutely. Be open to negotiating remote employment, pay rates, and even relocation. While initially some of these financial decisions may seem unsettling, the costs of a long term job vacancy will quickly outweigh an additional $5,000 relocation package for the right candidate.
• Be proactive. Don’t wait for a vacancy to arise before recruiting to fill it. You should constantly be working to attract talent for your key positions. This will allow you to upgrade talent in areas that you need to and give you a pool of candidates to contact when an opening arises unexpectedly.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

With job boards reported as being the primary advertising channel for 85% of companies, there’s no denying the impact the online advertising market has had on recruiting strategies for employers. If you are investing in online job advertisements, be sure to get the most of your investment. Creating an online job posting that attracts talent, shoud involve a combination of creative marketing, SEO value, and sales.

Do you feel like you struggle more to attract talent than some of your competitors? You might. Companies with less than 50 employees often spend more money advertising per hire than larger companies. Hiring strategies for small business often require more of a proactive rather than reactive approach. Whether your organization is small or large, the power of internal referrals is undeniable. In a 2011 survey by Jobvite, 70% of employers reported feeling that referred candidates were a better fit for company culture and company values. If your organization does not have a referral program established, now is the time to start!

While the battle for skilled talent is always present, 64% of employers reported advertising entry level positions. A combination of high volume, lower wages, and inexperience often lead employers to experience high turnover for these lower end positions. At a price of $173 per hire in advertising expenses alone, be sure that you have incorporated ways to reduce employee turnover and implemented retention programs even for your less skilled positions.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.