The Importance of Continuous Recruiting

Competition for top talent is intensifying in Canada and across the United States, resulting in heated recruiting rivalry for top performers and skilled technical personnel.  Many industries are affected by the shortage of skilled professionals.  Executives note that they receive thousands of applications for a single job position, but are frustrated to find that the majority of candidates are underqualified.

In seeking the ideal applicant for skilled job positions, recruiters are aggressively making counteroffers and putting efforts toward recruiting individuals currently employed.  Many firms are showing interest in younger professionals who show promise.  Entry level employees who learn and develop with the organization, are talent in the making.  Retaining skilled personnel is a major consideration, as some of the most skilled specialists are heading into retirement.

Continuous recruitment may be the solution for employers who are facing successful recruiting challenging.  The most challenged employers, are those who don’t look for great employees until there is a vacancy.  With continuous recruitment, prospective candidates are encouraged to complete an application and submit a resume, even when there isn’t an immediate opening fitting their experiences and skill set.  Many businesses build a database, with solid applicants they have already interviewed, before positions open.  Continuous recruitment allows business to respond quickly with staffing complications, sudden vacancies, or the need to replace low performing individuals.

A recent survey reported by CareerBuilder found that only 38% of employers continuously recruit, even though one out of every five employers report financial loss as the result of protracted vacancies.  The majority of human resources managers who continuously recruit report the practice, not only, lowered the hiring costs, but vacancies were filled rapidly.  The survey results indicated that 83% of employers had vacancies that remained unfilled, on average, for more than two months.  Twenty-two percent of the employers reported vacancies that remained open, on average, for more than six months.  Extended vacancies are detrimental to businesses, as they are known to:

  • Lower productivity
  • Force heavier workloads on existing employees
  • Decrease job completion
  • Reduce customer service
  • Lower quality
  • Lower employee morale
  • Cost the business revenue
  • Increase employee turnover

Continuous recruitment means managers need to foresee turnover in specialized or high-skilled job positions and assemble a group of competent applicants prepared to come on board, at short notice.  A database of talented professionals developed by continuously recruiting, substantially lowers hiring costs and drastically reduces the time required to fill vacancies.

To start building a database of candidates today, contact us about Prevue APS Pro – a great tool for continuous recruiting.

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In the effort of full disclosure, this is a promotional article highlighting Prevue HR’s services and products.