Recruiting professionals are caught between pre-outbreak plans and new instability, according to Gartner research released April 30. To cope, the research and advisory firm suggested employers take a three-pronged approach: embrace virtual interviewing; manage candidate and new hire emotions; and embrace internal mobility.
While the vast majority of HR leaders responding to a recent Gartner poll said they’ll reduce hiring during the next three months, most (86%) said they’ll use video interviews when they do hire. What’s more, "virtual interviewing may become the new standard for recruiting leaders and candidates long after social distancing guidelines are lifted," Lauren Smith, vice president in the Gartner HR practice, predicted in a press release.
Gartner also suggested that recruiters and hiring managers manage candidate emotions to avoid reputational damage; this may include transparent communication if openings are frozen or start dates delayed. And to accommodate shifts in business needs, HR can source from a pool of employees and promote vacancies internally. "As organizations continue to embrace remote work policies during these circumstances, recruiting leaders should fill talent gaps through alternate employment models that present a lower risk to the organization’s growth," Smith said.