It is no secret that the job market has undergone some major changes with the advancement of technology. This is especially true as we respond to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus. This change has not only affected how positions within a company function, but how recruiting, hiring, and training processes are executed.
The development of technology affects every step in the hiring process, from soliciting and processing applications to training and acclimating new hires. Many of these changes bring with them undeniable benefits, including increased security, smoother workflows, and reduction in repetitive tasks.
The benefits of cloud computing go far beyond workflow optimization. The proliferation of cloud-based applications and databases has reduced the monetary investment required in new software and has automated system updates while creating a central database for all applicant and new hire information. Similarly, the ability to scale up hiring as an organization grows has been made more accessible.
While it’s estimated that only 22% of businesses have a standardized onboarding process, building a cloud-based database for your new hires can be the beginning of streamlining the new hire process. In fact, this is a major benefit of cloud computing in general, and it can produce smoother workflows across all functions.
Recruitment and Application Processing
The advent and use of an Applicant Tracking System is one that has streamlined the application and vetting process immensely. The use of ATS systems and the integration of these systems into job posting platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed can make the process of vetting and processing resumes much smoother, as the number of applicants for each position grows. ATS systems were originally somewhat advanced keyword search programs, but as they have advanced and changed, the way that companies use them has as well.
ATS tracking systems can now rank submitted resumes based on tons of different parameters, a number which is being raised each time a new update is performed. It’s estimated that only the top 20 percent of applications are allowed through these systems, meaning that rather than having to sort through the mass of applications, hiring managers can focus their efforts on the applicants most likely to be a fit for the position, rather than weeding through every single application submitted. This is allowing professionals to work more efficiently, as well as streamline their overall process.
While the recruitment process itself is a major focus of the innovations that HR and hiring departments are seeing, the training and preparation process has also seen developments in response to an increasingly online environment. This has been especially important as hiring managers are having to respond to the effects of the coronavirus. Resume software, however, can make the entire process far smoother.
Onboarding
With the increase in remote hiring due to the coronavirus, companies are facing new challenges in the onboarding process that haven’t been faced before. Few companies have a standardized onboarding process, and each employee needs their own timeline for training and onboarding, which can make progress and integration to a new company a difficult thing to track. Companies are now experiencing the challenge of not being able to see their employees on a daily basis, making the personalization and individual tracking that can usually be gained through face to face meetings and check-ins more difficult.
Though you may not have the opportunity to see your newest employees one-on-one every day, building an accessible onboarding process can help your new hires feel welcomed and set them up for success in their new position. One option is to build an onboarding timeline that the hiring team and share and check in on, make notes, and keep track of new employees. By making timelines and materials accessible and transparent, technology is making it possible to maintain connections and keep track of how the newest employees are doing.
Hiring teams are facing new challenges in onboarding with the increase in remote work and recruiting. While the one-on-one touch that hiring professionals often prefer may be more difficult to create, video chats shared schedules, and mutually accessible resources are being utilized in new ways to make new hires feel at home and prepared for their positions. As the use of remote work continues, there are overall changes that are being seen in recruitment and hiring as well.
Overall Changes
Technology is changing the hiring process in fundamental ways. With more and more platforms utilizing ATS tracking systems, you have the opportunity to streamline the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding process. With the current public health crisis, these innovations have gone from being an exciting opportunity to a requirement.
As remote onboarding is posing a long-running challenge to businesses, more technology is being utilized to make the transition to entirely remote hiring, onboarding, and training. While the implications of the current climate may be daunting, cloud-based employee software can be an improvement over older systems. They offer the ability to streamline workflow, share employee information between teams and managers, and even incorporate sensitive information into payroll systems in a secure way.
The main focus of HR technology has been on automation and integration. ATS systems allow for automated tracking, processing, and vetting of resumes and applicants, while onboarding systems allow for personalized onboarding processes and gameplans. Integration between payroll and other employee management systems can keep information is kept safer by using up to date encryption technology, as well as requiring it to be shared between fewer, unsecured platforms.
As you consider updating your hiring, onboarding, and training processes, consider any challenges you have historically faced in employee management and training. As technology has changed the hiring process, many of these new systems can reduce human error, improve compliance, and reduce the effort and tedium required to keep systems updated and secure. Technology is not only changing the hiring process, it is setting companies and employees up for success as we move into the future of remote careers.
