Rethinking How We Recruit
Innovate & Integrate
Rethinking How We Recruit
When our marketing department requested an update on recruiting from the team, the last time I'd written something like this was pre-pandemic in 2019. The older draft was full of optimism and puns but lacked the substance needed to summarize the current hiring climate in 2023.
In the past three years, we've seen historic layoffs – and, more recently, considerable crashes in tech and finance. Talent Acquisition as an industry has been hit especially hard. The recruiting landscape has never been rockier for both job seekers and recruiters. It's easy to feel cynicism creeping in when scrolling LinkedIn post after post lamenting the job search and interview process. Especially in the throes of 2020, I wondered: What are the most effective actions to improve these processes for job seekers and help staff IST Management?
The answer isn't black and white – but I think it starts with empathy.
Leading with Empathy
At the end of every application is a person, just like every rejection email has both a sender and a receiver. There is a plethora of inaccurate information on the internet regarding screening processes – misconceptions about the prevalence of AI and "automatic rejections" from sentient-sounding ATS systems. Those job seeking are commonly under the stress of unemployment, especially with rising inflation. So, what can we do to show that we understand the mindset and needs of prospective new teammates applying to our jobs? How can we make this a warmer and more welcoming process?
Transparency is another part of the answer, and is most important to me as our recruiting director. We strive to lead with empathy to keep applicants not only informed of our processes and ready for their interviews but also to provide updates on decisions as up to the minute as possible.
Our leadership team has invested precious resources into recruiting at IST Management that allow us to keep lines of communication open, even when one recruiter may be doing their best to support thousands of applicants daily. Our local operations and site teams nationwide have become more involved with recruiting and interviewing as our growing resources have allowed them to connect directly with potential new teammates. Personal connections that only a local team can deliver during the interview process, like face-to-face sit-down conversations, go a long way!
Finding Our Shared Outcome
Filling a new position at IST Management is a series of decisions taken seriously by each person in the equation. The hiring manager is planning for a successful operation and the long-term success of their local team. The applicant is weighing a huge life decision that will affect their plans. The recruiter is working hard to accomplish their goals, continue their career in Talent Acquisition, and connect a jobseeker with the perfect fit. We all want the same outcome. Once we allow our sense of empathy to permeate our processes, we can provide a much better experience for those we may find ourselves working alongside soon.
Incentivizing Internal Recruiting
As always, I'd be remiss if I did not mention that referrals make the best hires. IST Management offers a $750.00 recruiting bonus for all employees who refer a friend for full-time employment without using IST recruiting tools. What better way to pay it forward professionally and personally than to connect a trusted friend or acquaintance with their next step?
Building Futures
IST Management is a company focused on long-term partnerships which can only be successful with empathy. To lead by this standard means our team is built from this quality, and it all begins in the hiring process. Though the hiring atmosphere feels disconnected, the team handling each application is here to find the best outcomes for each person and, ideally, lasting careers.
Contact Info
IST Management Services, Inc.
1341 Moreland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316