Recruiting Trends: 4 Methods for Finding the Right Talent

When it comes to finding the right talent, today's organizations have plenty of options. With the increasing popularity of social networking, however, companies are moving away from traditional hiring processes and opting for more technologically driven methods.

Here are four of the more popular recruiting trends and some of the vendors that offer solutions, apps, or services in each of these spaces.

1. Social Media for Recruitment (Social Recruiting)

Because of the sheer volume of information (and traffic) on social media sites, many companies are daunted by the task of having to sift through it, and so have yet to include this platform in their hiring process.

Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter are some of the main social media tools used by today's forward-thinking organizations. They allow recruiters to target the exact skill sets required for often difficult-to-fill positions.

The amount of traffic that social media sites see is attractive to recruiters and HR executives as a pool of potential candidates�"while promoting their company and leveraging relationships that may turn into placements down the road.

Plenty of software vendors have adopted the idea of social networking, providing tools within their talent management or recruiting solutions that allow recruiters to easily find candidates through social networks, friend referrals, and more.

Social recruiting has become the primary focus of many recruiters and staffing firms because, unlike most search engines and job boards, social recruiting strategies promote transparent, two-way communication between an employer and job seeker.

Pros

Helps companies position their brands by targeting workers more dynamically than a job board posting allows

Increases candidate response rate

Allows companies to research on all publically posted information of potential candidates

Cons

If used improperly can actually tarnish a company's reputation

Is only as good as the effort a company puts into it

May be more susceptible than traditional techniques to favoring or excluding candidates based on characteristics such as race or religion

Social Recruiting Vendors

Jobvite�"Jobvite Source is a social sourcing and candidate relationship management (CRM) application that helps companies find relevant talent through employee referrals, social networks, and the Web.

SelectMinds�"SelectMinds social recruiting and community management solutions automate the referral process while leveraging the social connections of a company's current and former employees.

The Resumator�"The Resumator is deeply integrated with social networks, using social recruiting tools that make it easy for companies to broadcast job openings across the social Web.

2. Managed Services: Vendor Management Systems and Recruitment Process Outsourcing

A vendor management system (VMS) is a software program that distributes job requirements to staffing companies, recruiters, consulting companies, and independent consultants. It facilitates the interview and hire process, as well as labor time collection, approval, and payment for both contingent, temporary, and (in some cases) full-time employees. A VMS can be used by recruiters within a staffing firm or by an organization's recruiting department directly.

Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) entails services similar to those of VMS providers; however, RPO service providers generally handle the entire recruitment activity process (and since they manage a multitude of recruiters, their procedures are standardized). RPO services can help organizations to negotiate fees and contractual terms, determine and rate employee service providers (vendors), conduct pre-employment verifications, screen résumés, conduct interviews, and more.

Pros

Puts recruiting in the hands of the professionals

Streamlines the overall candidate hiring process

Benefits from the knowledge and expertise of consultants with regard to labor compliance regulations

Cons

Disconnects HR departments from the hiring process

Requires a well-defined corporate and staffing strategy to succeed

May cost more than an internal recruitment department

VMS and RPO Vendors

Beeline�"Beeline's VMS automates the process of procuring, managing, and analyzing contingent and project-based labor and allows companies to budget, track, and pay time and material and fixed-price milestone payments through consolidated invoicing.

Bond eEmpact�"Bond eEmpact provides application tracking, process automation, résumé management, and Outlook integration staffing dashboard for staffing agencies around the globe.

Kenexa�"Kenexa's RPO division uses technology and human ability (through its many experienced consultants) to reach hard-to-find candidates and deliver them on-demand to recruiters.

OneHire�"OneHire provides functionality such as applicant tracking and assessments. Its experienced staff can help companies manage a multitude of recruiters as well as help them to consolidate, refine, and define their recruitment processes.

TalentFlow�"TalentFlow is a Web-based VMS that helps companies create an open marketplace for staffing services while managing their contingent workforce, materials, and services.

Zoho�"Zoho Recruit is an applicant tracking system and recruitment software that helps staffing agencies and recruiting departments track job openings, resumes, candidates, and contacts.

3. Employee Screening and Background Checks

The reference check of the past has evolved into a thorough background check on all job applicants' criminal history and work records, including current and past employment, performance, attendance, and reasons for leaving a job.

In high-security positions or positions of trust (e.g., in schools, hospitals, airports, or government), employee screening is a must. Depending on the type of position, employee screening and background checks can also include drug or alcohol testing, fingerprint investigation, and credit score. Background checks are also used to investigate potential government employees before granting security clearance.

Pros

Helps identify potentially problematic candidate behaviors

Helps reduce employee turnover and related costs

Reduces costs associated with employee theft

Protects employers against potential discrimination lawsuits

Cons

May give candidates the impression that a company is overly controlling or paranoid

May be construed as an invasion of personal liberty

Can be expensive in terms of money and time

Must be conducted responsibly or companies risk fines for mishandling personal data

Employee Screening and Background Check Vendors

AccuScreen�"AccuScreen provides employment screening background checks, placing emphasis on past performance, employment periods, positions held, salary, rehire eligibility, and reasons for leaving.

HR Plus�"HR Plus products include background screening, drug testing, and fingerprinting.

LexisNexis�"LexisNexis Employment Screening offers in-depth criminal background checks, drug and alcohol screening, and employment verification.

Social Intelligence�"Social Intelligence offers social media screening and investigative services including employment background checks, insurance claims investigations, corporate due diligence, and government services.

TalentWise�"TalentWise offerings include background checks, drug testing, US Department of Transportation regulation compliance solutions, driving records, assessments, verifications, credit checks, and international searches.

4. Video (and Virtual) Interviewing

Video and virtual interviewing both provide a simple and unique way for recruiters to interview candidates while helping to build the company brand and cut down on recruiting costs.

Candidates can be interviewed using video-conferencing (similar to Skype). Or recruiters can ask candidates to complete a virtual questionnaire: candidates log in to a personalized interview session online and respond over the phone to the given questions (see Figure 1), and have the opportunity to review their answers before the information is stored for the recruiter.

The video and virtual experience is not for everyone though. Some candidates may be reluctant to be part of an interview where they know they will be videotaped or recorded. And experts acknowledge that video cannot substitute for in-person interaction when it comes to reading candidates or understanding employees' needs.

Pros

Cuts down on the interview process and reduces the time-to-hire

Helps companies to improve their candidate pool

Is an efficient, standardized experience for candidates

Reduces environmental impact (travel, paper, etc.)

Cons

Does not convey body language very well

Should not be used as the sole recruitment tool

Video and Virtual Interview Vendors

GreenJobInterview�"GreenJobInterview's solution provides a platform that enables companies to do virtual job interviews anywhere in the world.

HireIQ�"HireIQ's solution provides a Web and voice-response application that doesn't require travel to a video-conferencing location or use of a webcam.

HireVue�"HireVue's Digital Interview Platform is for in-person, phone, video, and on-demand interviews. Interviewers simply e-mail questions to candidates who record their responses via webcam.

Sonru�"Sonru integrates secure online video into the interview process, and is suited to recruiters who want to interview a lot of people in a structured and fair manner quickly and cost effectively.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.