Although the British unemployment rate remains at its lowest since 1975, with only 3.9% of individuals out of work, the number of vacancies remains considerable, with an estimated 800,000 job vacancies on the market.
With so many vacancies and few candidates, the ‘Battle for Talent’ remains ruthless as companies struggle to find and retain skilled employees. As a result, the UK is facing a “skills shortage,” costing organizations more than £6.3 billion a year. A shortage is said to grow in the coming years of Brexit.
With these employment circumstances, organizations need to rethink their current hiring process. But could taking their recruitment on the road be the solution for attracting the best talent and reducing employee turnover?
Welcome, Recruitment Roadshows
Recruitment roadshows are gaining momentum as the go-to hiring tactic for attracting UK talent. By taking the recruitment process on the road and visiting different prime locations, recruiters can meet candidates in person, streamline the interview process and attract talent further afield.
Recruitment roadshows are ideal for organizations looking for specific skill sets, mass hiring for a new business division, or streamlining their hiring process. When executed well, recruitment roadshows can turn candidates into valuable employees.
Here are four reasons why your organization should take your hiring on the road in 2020 with a recruitment roadshow:
Expands Your Talent Search
Battling the UK’s skill shortage to find talented candidates with the right skills and experience can be challenging, but by taking your recruitment process on the road, you can expand your search.
By visiting different locations and heading directly to candidates, talent will favor your company for reaching out and making hiring more convenient. Recruitment roadshows also cut out the need for Zoom interviews from candidates further afield who may be looking to relocate.
Meet Candidates Face-to-Face
45% of new hires quit their role in 2019 because their day-to-day role didn’t match what they expected.
As recruitment roadshows allow organizations to meet their candidates face-to-face, recruiters can communicate current job roles in-depth and in-person, preventing any job description miscommunications.
Candidates can ask questions and determine whether to continue with their application, while recruiters can screen candidates if they believe they don’t have the necessary skills or experience required.
Streamlines the Hiring Process
The number one pain point for candidates is slow feedback and delayed decision-making from potential employers.
While some delays are inevitable, a painfully slow or multi-tier recruitment process can cause candidates to lose interest and talent to find employment elsewhere.
Depending on the set-up, a recruitment roadshow can remove the need for skimming hundreds of CVs, initial phone interviews and screens out candidates unsuitable for the role or company, allowing for a more speedy yet thorough hiring process.
Creates a Candidate-Centric Experience
Candidates satisfied with their recruitment experience are 38% more likely to accept a job offer. Regardless of whether they get a job offer, applicants who are satisfied with their recruitment experience are likelier to recommend the hiring organizations to others.
Recruitment roadshows are an informal recruitment tactic that leaves behind the typical hiring protocols that candidates often find overwhelming, such as waiting in reception or seeing other employees at work.
Whether utilizing a roadshow truck vehicle to create an immersive experience or hiring different event spaces, recruitment roadshows are completely customizable, allowing you to create a relaxed and welcoming environment that mirrors your company.
With recruitment roadshows, recruiters can choose to hose experiential activities to engage candidates further and make pre-hiring easier. Activities may include icebreakers, personality quizzes, or role-relevant tests to find the ‘best.’ For example, a company hiring a developer may challenge candidates to a coding test and only choose to interview the top scorers.
About the author: Dawn Ellis works at The Events Structure, which provides a range of roadshow trailers for recruitment and other applications to a diverse range of clients worldwide, including Mastercard, Amazon, Virgin, and the British Army.
