Why Hiring During COVID Is Different Than in Previous Downturns-And How a Staffing Agency Can Help
Jan 01, 2021

In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly changed the labor market. Many businesses that relied on onsite operations were forced to close temporarily and had to furlough or even lay off workers. Other companies that were able to operate virtually experienced an increased need for tech workers and managers with the skills to coordinate remote teams. This downturn is unlike any we’ve seen before. So how does it impact hiring?

Why it’s not an employer’s market


It’s important to understand that even though unemployment levels are high, according to Harvard Business Review, it’s not an employer’s market. 


After the high unemployment levels of April, jobs are rebounding quickly, unlike with previous downturns, during which the unemployment rates remained high for several years. In addition, workers are trying to avoid jobs that might put them at risk of contracting COVID-19. As a result, many roles that require an onsite presence are going unfilled. Interestingly, these are often more senior roles. At the same time, people who have the resources are moving away from the areas with the highest employment needs. This geographic mismatch leads to fewer jobs being filled in the regions where businesses need talent, like metropolitan areas. On top of this, there’s actually been a significant increase in job openings during the pandemic.


All things considered,job openingsare at unprecedented high levels. And with people literally basing their career moves on the risk of contracting COVID-19, it’s important for hiring managers to understand that it is a candidate’s market.

Takeaway for hiring managers


When it comes to talent acquisition, hiring managers need to take into account that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the various industries and regional labor markets differently. For example, a large grocery store that needs extra workers to help with sanitation or during a seasonal spike in business will likely have to offer a better salary and benefits package than it used to because of the risk of contracting the virus.


On the other hand, an accountant’s firm that can function entirely virtually will need an IT team that can coordinate and execute its digital transformation so that the financial team can work from home. In short, it’s important for companies to tailor their talent strategies to their individual situation instead of following a more general trend.


How a staffing agency can help


Fortunately, if you’re a hiring manager, you don’t have to go it alone. When you work with an experienced staffing agency that knows your industry and understands your local labor market, its recruiters will know where to find the talent you need.


The recruiters can help you determine new ways of coordinating your talent acquisition efforts and open up new avenues for connecting. They can also help you set up recruitment processes that are entirely remote—such as interviewing via Zoom or another teleconferencing app, assigning online skills tests, and leveraging tools such as DocuSign when offering a contract. And perhaps most importantly, they can help you put together job offers that comprise the salary, benefits, and perks candidates in your industry and region are looking for in the current unprecedented circumstances.


The recruiters can help you determine new ways of coordinating your talent acquisition efforts and open up new avenues for connecting. They can also help you set up recruitment processes that are entirely remote—such as interviewing via Zoom or another teleconferencing app, assigning online skills tests, and leveraging tools such as DocuSign when offering a contract. And perhaps most importantly, they can help you put together job offers that comprise the salary, benefits, and perks candidates in your industry and region are looking for in the current unprecedented circumstances.

14 Aug, 2023
Rephrasing the famous song, “Love is in the air”, let’s talk about change is in the air – and everywhere. We grow. We change. Look at your childhood photos. Watch your kid, your nephew, your niece. The change is there, and it’s incredible. Nature is constantly changing. We wait for summer as the time to enjoy outdoor activities and gardening, for a quick visit to the beach, or simply take time to relax and spend time with family, friends and loved ones. We wait for winter (even if we never see snow falling) to decorate the house for the holidays, pack presents for the people we love and unpack our own. The colour of the leaves changes, the weather shifts, and flowers blossom in their time – the landscape is constantly transforming. The world around us is changing. We travel to other countries and learn new things, cultures and languages. We take on new hobbies. We get new skills. After a couple of minor kitchen accidents (sometimes), we can cook delicious dishes and get compliments from family and friends. We transform our bodies at the gym or simply by creating the habit of walking every day. We meet new people, we sometimes fall in love, we build families, we have kids. And if you step back for a second, you realise you might have met your other half by pure accident. But you took a leap of faith into the unknown. We embrace many types of unknown change, except for the one that can change how we live five days a week – to change jobs. “I am too old/too young to change”, “I’m used to this environment; It’s my comfort zone”, “Well, I don’t get any promotion, and what I do doesn’t change the world, but it’s stable”, “I am afraid to ask for more interesting projects. What if my manager fires me?”. We often don’t want to change because that step requires a vision, courage, external support, and a leap of faith into the unknown. Scary? Yes. But also promising. A step into the unknown? Yes. But it can open a new door. Do your inner values marry what you do? Yes, it is essential. There is nothing terrible about staying in your comfort zone. At some stage of your career, staying put can be an excellent decision. But if you feel that you need a change – talk to Kelly. We don’t mind going the extra mile and support your wish to embrace the change. The one which will give meaning to what you do, feel proud, motivated and fulfilled. Ready for changing? We’ll make sure your talent can truly shine.
10 Aug, 2023
You’ve seen these guys before when a circus came to your city or maybe on TV. They walk on a wire at an impressive height, sometimes without insurance, sometimes with a long stick that probes the void right and left. They walk slowly, trying the wire with their toes first, making small steps, their eyes fixed on the small platform where they plan to land soon. They never watch down. They don’t listen to an audience that applauses or gasps in awe. They are concentrated on keeping their balance. To keep balance. Let’s come down from the wire above the arena or stage. Let’s look closer at balance, where it has its roots and the secrets of keeping it. Is it an art? Or is it a skill? Can you learn to keep balance? Or is it an innate skill that only gymnasts, figure skaters, circus artists and ballet dancers are born with? Want to know the secrets of a ballerina that must perform 32 fouettes, a complex ballet movement that requires turning 360 degrees at a high-speed standing on the point of a ballet shoe? First, keeping balance is a skill people must learn for years. In ballet, sport, circus, real life, and… work life. A ballerina is taught to pick one point and to fix her eyes on it when she makes her 32 fouettes, a complex ballet movement that requires turning 360 degrees at high-speed standing on the point of a ballet shoe. She focuses on one thing that keeps her upright. She doesn’t look anywhere else. Gymnasts in some disciplines are constantly trained to feel the bar under their feet. They are prepared to land precisely on the bar after they jump, and the incredible contortions we admire in competitions. But let’s come back to the circus artists we have begun with. Often, they have a long stick in their hands to keep their balance. Is their secret hidden in the stick? And what is the secret? You don’t need to be a ballet dancer, a gymnast, or a circus artist to get the idea of balance. Here are your first two steps in your balance training: 1. Keep your main priorities in mind. And have a clear idea about what is very important for you and where you are ready to compromise. But don’t listen to external opinions that don’t align with your ideals. Forget about the audience’s applause – focus on you. 2. Use some help to stay upright and get to your goals. Imagine your life split on two ends of the helping stick, your job is on one end, and your private life is on another. How comfortable do you feel at your height now with the load on both ends? You need support. We at Kelly pay a lot of attention to balance. The balance between people’s private lives and their jobs. The balance between feeling appreciated and professional goals or between achieving extraordinary results and being inspired. Talk to Kelly today. We are not ballet coaches or sports trainers, but we know much about how important work/life balance is in our lives.
03 Aug, 2023
We often associate certain qualities with individuals who seem to possess a natural talent for creativity. We convince ourselves that painting, singing, or dancing are pursuits reserved for these "real" artists while we remain mere spectators. Creativity? Inspiration? No, it's not about me.
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