4 Tips for Hiring Smarter in 2016

After the uncertain economic climate since 2008, there’s good news, according to three recent surveys (Dice, DHI Hiring Group, and ManpowerGroup): Hiring is up, and job growth is predicted to be strong in 2016, both in the U.S. and globally. On the flip side, the employment market will continue to be tight as businesses vie for the same candidates. Employers will increasingly be impacted by rising wages and the ongoing skills gap.

To be prepared to attract the top talent you need, read these 4 tips for hiring smarter in 2016:

1. Expect to compete for candidates–especially technology professionals. U.S. employers reported the strongest first-quarter hiring plans since 2007. Depending on the survey, at least one-fifth of companies plan to hire more staff.  Dice, a technology job board, learned that 71 percent of companies are looking to augment their technology teams by 11% or more in the first 6 months of 2016. Just over three-fourths (78 %) of 397 hiring managers anticipate adding technology professionals in the first half of 2016, compared to the second half of 2015.

2. Plan to increase salaries. With candidates in increasing demand, more employers say they’ve been giving counter-offers to retain employees about to jump ship. Other employers who hoped to hire these same candidates are finding that positions are going unfilled because their salaries are too low. As a result, 56% of hiring managers imagine offering higher salaries for new hires in 2016.

To stay competitive, call us for the most current market rate compensation information on your open positions. And don’t limit your thinking to salary alone–consider offering perks such as flexible schedules, remote work, and additional vacation time or paid time off to make your offer more attractive. Thinking ahead about what else you may have to offer could keep negotiations from floundering if your candidate makes a counter-offer.

3. Expect longer hiring times. Almost half of respondents (45%) to the DHI survey said that the time to fill open positions has lengthened since 2014. The primary reason cited is the inability to find qualified professionals (53%), followed by hiring managers saying they’re waiting for the perfect match (29%). According to Glassdoor, companies currently need an average of 23 days to screen and hire new eployees, up from 13 days in 2010. The danger is that, in adding layers to your hiring process to avoid costly mistakes, you may lose candidates to your competitors.

4. Start recruiting sooner. What can employers do to stay ahead of the hiring game? DHI Group advises that employers not only bulk up their budgets to pay desired candidates, but also to begin “ongoing sourcing and identifying professionals ahead of the creation of a specific job opening. Recruitment has to be more about relationship building today than ever before.”

These surveys are an accurate reflection of what we are experiencing at Amtec as we compete to recruit the best candidates for our clients. With these 4 tips for hiring smarter in 2016, you’ll be better equipped to compete for top talent. As a 57-year-old recruiting agency, no staffing partner is better equipped than we are to help you find the professionals you need. If you need extra help recruiting and negotiating offers, click here or call (714) 993-1900.

Are you letting the “perfect” candidate get away? Read this.