The Ever-Changing Landscape of Recruitment and Technology

While not yet fully realised, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been far-reaching and of grave significance. Not only are we having to adapt to the new challenges brought about in our day-to-day lives, but we have also been introduced to a new age of ‘work’. With limited physical interaction, businesses had to find alternate ways to conduct business – relying heavily on technology due to the mass-adoption of the remote working model.

Among those industries hit hardest was the recruitment sector. Data provided by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), revealed that more than 2.5 million people lost their jobs in 2020, as a direct result of the pandemic. While this meant there were job vacancies, these businesses, as well as the recruitment companies, didn’t have the capabilities or capacity to fill them. As we enter the ‘new normal’, and as the global job market begins to stabilise, recruitment technology is at the forefront of ensuring this is made possible.

What Does the Future of Recruitment Technology Look Like?

While many of the repercussions of the pandemic have been detrimental to businesses, those with the right IT infrastructure in place have been able to thrive in the world of remote working. Organisations are no longer bound by borders, granting them access to a wider pool of talent. But, without the correct recruitment technology in place, these additional resources are still inaccessible.

There are a number of key areas where leveraging recruitment technology can benefit your business:

• Identifying talent has forever been a common pain point for recruitment companies, but this doesn’t have to be the case. In recent years, recruitment companies have utilised Artificial Intelligence (AI), data-centric recruiting and automation to drastically enhance the efficiency, and effectivity, of the hiring process. AI-based Applicant Tracking Systems are able to read through CVs and match them up with current vacancies, within their systems, based on key terms or qualifications. Not only does this speed up the process, but it means that your candidates are being matched with the appropriate roles, which also means you’re not wasting time matching talent with unsuitable vacancies.

• The interview and hiring process became far more convoluted during the pandemic. However, through the adoption of recruitment technology, it has never been more straightforward. Through video conferencing platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, candidates can now be interviewed from anywhere in the world, remotely. By seamlessly integrating with your calendar, Microsoft Teams makes it easier for recruiters to track the availability of talent and schedule meetings, with ease. While this may have been, initially, a consequence of the pandemic, with 80% of companies declaring that their interviewing and hiring processes are conducted remotely, it’s unlikely that this is going to change anytime soon.
• Security is a key consideration for any organisation, especially those functioning within the recruitment space. Due to the amount of information needing to be stored – such as candidate credentials, banking information, sensitive data for both candidates and organisations, as well as much more – your cyber security is an essential part of your recruitment business. Recruitment technology, such as multi-factor authentication, data encryption, endpoint protection and anti-virus software can help fortify your cyber security posture. Blue Saffron can help strengthen your cyber security with our fully managed security services and testing, ensuring that your IT systems are proactively monitored for threats 24/7

It’s Time to Embrace Change!

Blue Saffron, a trusted partner of APSCo, works extensively with the recruitment sector. For nearly two decades, we have supported and developed IT services for recruitment companies, which is the very foundation of our offering. Having worked with many medium-sized firms, we understand their challenges and have developed intelligent IT solutions to create positive impact for recruitment consultancies.

To find out how recruitment technology can help your company grow with confidence, check out our recent eBook, You’re Hired! IT in the Recruitment Sector: Channelling the power of technology to overcome challenges and enhance opportunities, today.