Hiring Trends to Watch in 2020. Recruitment strategies to stay competitive throughout the hiring process as unemployment hovers at a nearly 50 year low.

Finding the right balance between traditional and digital channels will be the key to successful recruitment in 2020.

“As organizations continuously look for ways to attract the best talent, knowing which techniques work best can give hiring pros an extra edge,” said Kevin Lyons-Tarr, CEO, 4imprint. “That’s why we went right to the source, asking HR professionals what recruitment techniques, interview questions and employee recruitment giveaways are helping them appeal to prospective employees.”

Popular Hiring Trends That Work

Online job boards, like Indeed and CareerBuilder, are the most popular recruitment method used by HR professionals, according to research by 4imprint. Other popular online recruitment methods include recruiting platforms like LinkedIn and Recruiter and organic social media posts on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Employee referral programs are the most popular offline recruitment method for employers, and nearly 40 percent of HR professionals agreed that it was the most successful recruitment method. Job fairs, in-person networking events, recruiting agencies and print publications were other popular offline recruitment methods.

Hiring Trends: How Are Interviews Conducted?

Most organizations still conduct interviews one-on-one. Almost 80 percent conduct one-on-one interviews in person and more than 60 percent complete them over the phone. In-person group interviews are common practice for more than half of employers and only 20 percent conduct group interviews by phone. With remote work on the rise, phone and video interviews will occur more frequently.

Who is Involved in the Hiring Process?

Human resources representatives are most likely to be involved in the interview process. More than half of HR professionals include the manager for the role or the department leader in the interview process. Nearly 40 percent include co-workers and just 15 percent involve direct reports in the interview process.

Companies use personality assessments, cultural assessments and homework assignments to evaluate how potential hires will fit within the organization. Cultural fit is considered the most important attribute, followed by qualifications, work experience, willingness to work and lastly, education.

More than 60 percent of employers evaluate a candidate’s education, but less than 10 percent value it. Employers are more flexible with educational requirements in light of the financial challenges associated with earning a college degree.

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