Virtual Recruitment Will Be a Key Fixture of the Hybrid Workplace

Our Guest Spotlight today showcases Nicolas Speeckaert, the Founder and Managing Partner of skeeled. This is the story of how virtual recruitment will come to define hybrid working.

Many companies are planning how their employees can safely return to the office. If the UK government’s roadmap out of lockdown is successful, restrictions on social contact could be removed by 21 June, which could indicate a good point in time where legally companies can ask their employees to return. But what will the future workplace look like?

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated flexible working trends, supported by technology and, as research tells us, this is likely to continue.

Now many companies are talking about adopting a ‘hybrid working’ model, where some people are in the office and others at home. BP recently announced that its 25,000 global employees will be expected to work from home for two days per week after the pandemic in a permanent shift to flexible working.

It appears to be what employees want too. A recent survey from digital workplace firm Claromentis revealed that after the threat of the pandemic subsides, almost three quarters (73%) of UK knowledge workers want a ‘hybrid’ working arrangement, splitting their time between home and the office.

Of the 73%, the average employee wants to work from home for around two thirds (64%) of their working week and spend around a third (36%) of their time working from the office.

ceo-heading-150-A01

Shifting to Hybrid Working & Virtual Recruitment Trends

To move seamlessly to a hybrid model, companies may need to review their processes and the technology it uses to support their business.

One key area where technology is already proving invaluable is recruitment. Offices may have been closed, but hiring has continued online, with companies interviewing, hiring and onboarding new recruits over Zoom or Teams without ever meeting them in person.

The pandemic was the ideal testing ground for virtual recruitment and showed employers that it is possible and effective with the right tools.

Using digital recruitment solutions employers can now streamline many of the repetitive and time-consuming processes, particularly in the early stages of recruitment in attracting, sifting, and selecting candidates for interview.

Working in different locations does not need to be a barrier to recruitment or slow down the process. Many companies embraced digital recruitment throughout the pandemic and are now set to continue recruiting this way as they are finding it particularly useful for global hiring.

Insights from LinkedIn at the start of 2021 highlighted that 81% of talent professionals believe virtual recruitment will continue post-Covid and 70% say virtual recruitment will become the new standard.

Last year, recruitment outsourcing company Cielo also highlighted that most employers are now comfortable using technology for talent acquisition, with 82% of hiring managers saying they will continue to interview using video once the pandemic is over. Two fifths (41%) are happy to onboard staff virtually and 32% are not concerned about making job offers without meeting candidates face to face.

How Are Company Leaders Building Towards Hybrid Working?

In a recent report, CEO.digital interviewed business leaders from across industries to find out what they were doing to fuel a new age of hybrid working between offices and home. Access the full report now to equip your organisation for the Anywhere Office of Tomorrow.

ceo-quote-top

We expect virtual recruitment will become the norm for many companies in the future, working in tandem with more traditional recruitment methods and complementing the overall recruitment strategy.

Nicolas Speeckaert
Founder & Managing Partner, skeeled

Headshot Nicolas Speeckaert Founder & Managing Partner, skeeled
ceo-quote-bottom
ceo-heading-150-A01

Going Digital Is Helping Companies Save Money & Hire the Right Talent

Businesses are adapting to the new normal and we are seeing demand grow for virtual talent acquisition solutions.
Moving part of the recruitment process into the virtual world can remove the resource intensive and costly stages of recruitment when candidates are screened and selected for the first interview. Often it can also benefit candidates who are more relaxed being interviewed from home.

With more people chasing jobs and employers seeing high volumes of applicants for each job role advertised this can be a real advantage. Technology can save companies hours of time and cost and ensure a more fair and objective selection process.

We expect virtual recruitment will become the norm for many companies in the future, working in tandem with more traditional recruitment methods and complementing the overall recruitment strategy.

About Our Guest Writer

Nicolas Speeckaert
Founder & Managing Partner, skeeled

Nicolas is the Founder of skeeled, a company that specialises in predictive talent acquisition software. It leverages the power of behavioural science and AI technology to help you make successful hires. A powerful, user-friendly solution, skeeled uses AI-based technology and workflow automation to optimise every step of the talent acquisition process. Nicolas is based in Luxembourg, and studied at the EADA Business School and University of Westminster.