2018 Recruitment Trends Predicted

In January, it is natural that people want to look forward and find out the trends that will be relevant in the rest of the year. The recruitment industry is no different from any other, and this is why many people are clamouring to see the top recruitment trends for 2018.

There are many different opinions on what is going to matter in the next 12 months but recruitment specialists Hays have listed a number of features and working practices that are likely to be relevant in the year ahead. It is expected that technology will have a big role to play in recruitment in the foreseeable future.

Traditionally, recruitment has followed the model of “advertise and apply” but in the predictions for the year ahead, this is being replaced by a strategy consisting of “find and engage”. As this suggests, it is likely that recruitment firms will need to be proactive in finding suitable candidates for their vacancies and then build a relationship from there. In many ways, this makes sense.

Companies need to find people who are a good fit

It is vital that companies find people who are a good fit for their organisation. It can be difficult to know who is likely to match your outlook after an interview or two but by getting to know people in advance, there is a better chance of finding candidates who can come into an organisation and get on well with people. There will always be a need for skills and qualifications but a person’s ability to work with others and maintain the working environment atmosphere will always be an important aspect for companies to consider.

The use of AI

2018 will see Artificial Intelligence be used more frequently, and the recruitment sector will be like any other. One way that you will see AI being used is to screen CVs and to converse with candidates. The improved nature of chatbot technology means that it is easier than ever before to achieve great results from this style of system, and this will help to streamline the process while ensuring companies operate in the most effective manner.

Will Virtual Reality be used to provide candidates with a flavour of the working environment?

There is no doubt that there is scope for the use of Virtual Reality in speaking with candidates but it remains to be seen how widely used this will be? It is likely that some firms will adopt certain VR practices but it may be 2019 or beyond before this becomes a major factor in recruitment.

A similar argument may be made for Augmented Reality, or AR. This technology could allow for more realistic test to be provided to candidates, allowing firms to see people in a scenario that is more like their natural habitat.

Other elements tipped by Hays include:

• Candidates adding video when applying for jobs or on their LinkedIn profile
• Automated services becoming increasingly common
• The importance of diversity

It is clear that 2018 is going to be an exciting and interesting year for recruitment and 2XL Recruitment Solutions are on hand to help you move in the right direction.