8 Recruiting Trends Business Leaders Expect to See in 2022
Welcome to Recruiter Q&A, where we pose employment-related questions to the experts and share their answers!
Today’s Question: What’s one recruiting trend you suspect we’ll see in 2022, and why?
These answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization composed of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, and have created tens of thousands of jobs.
1. Targeted Use of Employee Referral Programs
Talent competition has never been so fierce. In 2022, I expect to see more companies implementing employee referral programs to access highly qualified cohorts who may not be actively seeking a new job but would consider one if the opportunity arose. This would allow them to gain a competitive advantage, reduce acquisition costs and reduce employee turnover. — Brian Pallas, Opportunity Network
2. Freelance Work as a Trial Run for Full-Time Work
Bringing in more contractors and freelancers as a trial run to full-time employment is picking up as a recruitment strategy. Considering the uncertainty, lockdowns, and lack of available talent, companies can fill in gaps with available resources, scale safely and identify integral partners and talent in less conventional ways than traditional hiring rounds. — Mario Peshev, DevriX
3. Flexibility With Qualifications
The definition of a qualified candidate will change with the aftermath of the Great Resignation. Obviously, you want the best possible application for the job, especially for a specialized position. People have been taking time to hone their skills or reevaluate their priorities. As a result, different candidates may bring varying strengths to the table, and you have to prepare to be flexible. — Duran Inci, Optimum7
4. Higher Salaries for Top Talent
It’s difficult to find exceptional employees, and the market is (for now) favoring the workers. Companies can’t hire enough talent, so the competition is pretty fierce. I suspect this year the top-tier talent will fetch a high salary, and it will be worth it for companies serious about growth and having a great product. — Andy Karuza, Base64.ai
5. Offerings for Better Work-Life Balance
Candidates are all about work-life balance post-pandemic. The lure of a 401(k) and benefits is now equal to health and wellness days and balanced company culture, not a “hustle hard” culture. More companies are also offering unlimited paid time off. — Givelle Lamano, Lamano Law Office
6. Increased Use of AI
I expect recruiters and businesses to use AI more often to help with their recruiting, especially when there are tedious and high-volume tasks involved, like screening a candidate’s language in their application to identify potential issues. We’re seeing the application of AI in almost every field. It’s also more affordable and gets smarter as you train it, making it a great tool. — Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
7. Data-Driven Recruiting
As more and more of our world goes digital, the rise of data-driven recruiting will continue. Today, data is the key to ensuring talent teams are more strategic. Organizations that fail to embrace data this year and in the future will find it increasingly difficult to source talent, satisfy job seekers and hire top candidates. — Blair Thomas, eMerchantBroker
8. Focus on Employee Satisfaction
In 2021, the hiring focus clearly shifted to employee priorities over just the employer’s. In 2022, the employee focus will continue to grow as the power dynamic has massively shifted. It’s no longer just about the pay; it’s also about who’s most aligned with the employee’s personal and professional goals. Employers who understand this will focus on employee satisfaction, which will lead to growth. — Fehzan Ali, Adscend Media LLC
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