We all know the current job market is highly competitive, especially for hourly workers.
But it’s not simply the labor shortage that is making hiring difficult, it’s a SPEED shortage.
In order to stand out from the crowd, recruiters need to be able to move fast and respond quickly to applicants. If they can't, they run the risk of losing out on the best candidates.
That’s what Fountain CEO, Sean Behr, shared on a recent episode of the Chad & Cheese podcast.
“The easy way out is to say that… no one's applying for the job. There are just not enough people, and there may be some elements of truth to that, but I think the core thing that is overlooked is how important speed is in the hiring process. Explicitly in the world of hourly work… An average hourly worker, when they go into job search mode, which they go in fairly often - usually once a year, at least they're not applying to two jobs that they really like, they're applying to more like 10 jobs simultaneously.
Typically for [a server] if I've already applied to one, I’ll apply to 10 restaurants. Or, 5-7 [retail] stores. And what happens then is now you're on the radar of seven stores. The [hourly workers] also don't wait around for three months for the best offer. Usually, they're like, ‘I need to get a job in the next two weeks.’ So if you're a company that can't move fast, you lose.
You have a much higher chance of getting that applicant, especially the good ones if you get to them first. If you wait five days, you should assume that the other six restaurants have already contacted them. They're already in the process. They may have already even interviewed. The chances of you coming from behind and grabbing that great applicant? Very, very low.”*
One key way to speed up the process is to set up interviews quickly. This will show the applicant that you are interested in them and that you are moving forward with the hiring process.
In fact, FactoryFix data shows that candidates who received a message from the recruiter within 0-2 hours after completing the pre-screening questions were nearly 2X as likely to respond (i.e. NOT GHOST) as candidates who received that message 48 hours later.
It's also important to be responsive to applicant questions during the process. If they have any questions about the job or the company, make sure you answer them as quickly as possible. This will help build trust and show that you are interested in their potential to fill your open role.
Finally, it's important to be clear about what you are looking for in an employee in the job description and in any pre-screening questions you send them before an interview. This will help avoid confusion and ensure that you find the best candidate for the job.
The current job market is highly competitive and in order to find qualified employees, recruiters need to move fast and respond quickly. By setting up a system where applicants can easily apply, promptly scheduling and conducting interviews, and being responsive to applicant questions, you can vastly improve your chances of finding the best employees for your company.
Need help speeding up your top-of-funnel recruiting process?
FactoryFix can help by streamlining your sourcing, screening, and scheduling so you can start ahead of your competition with engaged candidates ready for an interview.
*Lightly edited for clarity, listen to the episode and read the full transcript on ChadCheese.com.
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