As we approach the end of 2021, most people are finalising their recruitment plans for 2022.

The last two years have been incredibly challenging for businesses; both as a result of COVID and its global impact, together with Brexit and the changes it brought. 

One study suggested that over 1.3 million foreign-born people may have left the country between 2019 and 2020, placing a strain on employers UK wide. In addition, many people have chosen not to consider a job change due to uncertainty in the market.

As a result, it has been widely reported that companies are struggling to find people to fill the 1.3million open vacancies advertised across the UK.

So, what can you do in order to increase your chances of securing people for your team?

• Adopt an open and pragmatic approach with regard to candidate profiles rather than being set on a particular background
• Consider the possibility of offering truly flexible working conditions or part-time hours where feasible
• Broaden the salary band on offer - is it possible to pay for more experience or potentially take an individual who could be developed over the next 6 months?
• Really sell the opportunity and benefits of working for your organisation to the candidate at the interview. In a competitive market, anything you can do in order to sound more attractive may get you the person that you want!
• Offer further training or study support for professional development - something that also can tie people into your company for the duration of their studies
• Work with a trusted recruitment consultant, even alongside your own process. They can tap into their network to proactively approach people who aren’t actively monitoring job boards or registered with other agencies
• Cover the role with a professional interim in order to allow you the time to find the right individual for the permanent position
• Offer a sign-on bonus to help compensate for potential loss of bonus 

It would be good to hear how your business has coped with the current recruitment challenges, especially if you have used new and innovative approaches to your recruitment process! To discuss your current and future recruitment needs, please contact the experts at Savant Recruitment.