Think about this way; if you put forth the effort to apply for a position online and maybe even perform a follow-up call or email for a phone interview, you would expect the same level of participation from the hiring manager or recruiter, right? Check out these 7 simple steps that Indeed believes will help you and your team provide better candidate feedback and overall boost your company’s reputation among job seekers.

1. Every candidate deserves feedback. This is not rocket science and means exactly what it says, if they take the time to show interest in your role, reciprocate and provide a little feedback.
2. Start with the material. Always try and be clear and upfront with your job seekers, making sure they are aware of your hiring process. If there are multiple interviews or a waiting period involved, keep the candidates updated along the way.
3. Offer ongoing insight. Give them specific industry stats regarding hiring. If you have an over abundance of applicants for a role, statistics will show that you obviously can’t hire everyone and unfortunately that may involve the candidate in question.
4. Acknowledge the awkward. I think everyone will agree that the worse parts of hiring is having to A. let someone go or B. explain why are they are not qualified and will not be hired. However, in both instances, it will do much more good than harm if you are upfront and honest. Don’t beat around the bush, explain the situation, making sure they understand the reasons behind the decision even if it is as simple as they didn’t make the final cut.
5. You’re never too busy. You will always have enough time to make a quick 30 sec – 1 minute phone call notifying a candidate that unfortunately, you went another route. Although, the conversation is short, this action is much more powerful than you think.
6. Make it actionable. If you come across a candidate that may have just fallen short of being qualified, help them along the way. Provide constructive criticism and provide avenues in which they make be able to better their situation and resume. This could something as simple as improving their communication skills to taking some online courses.
7. Practice what you preach. Try and remember the human side behind recruiting. You don’t always know the back story behind each of your candidates. What if they have been struggling for months to land a job to not only provide for themselves but to better their future. A simple act of treating others the way you would want to be treated, if you were in their position, will go a long way!

In the end, it is very simple to lose sight of the big picture when going through resume after resume. Behind every cover letter and application is a person who is simply trying to find work. By making sure we provide those candidates with the proper courtesy of some kind of feedback, we are ultimately improving the overall job seeking experience for candidates and employers alike.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Candidates and job seekers have a number of avenues they can use when looking to build their personal brand. The largest and most widely used method is increasing their online presence. This can be done through blog posts, social media interaction, and sharing videos to showcase the candidate’s passions and expertise in their respective fields. By paying attention to a job seeker’s online presence, you may learn more than what can be written in a resume or application

In addition to an online presence, candidates can build their personal brand by networking offline. This can occur at networking events, conventions, seminars and through local or regional trade publications. By keeping an eye on an individual’s professional connections, a company can truly evaluate their experience and overall interest in that particular industry.

A more subtle form of personal brand improvement is through teamwork and collaboration with other leaders in their industry. Candidates who are more geared towards collaboration may make it known that they participate in podcasts, group articles or other avenues. This level of networking explicitly shows how well a job seeker is able to work with others.

When going through applicants and potential new hires, every aspect of their personal brand should be considered when determining a person’s experience and industry knowledge. Just remember, not everything can fit on a resume.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Let’s think about this from the candidate’s perspective. Typically, when we think of places or activities that we would recommend to someone we know, we do so because as an individual, we had a positive experience. Whether that means the food was excellent, the show was entertaining or the service was top notch, we want others to have the same positive experience as we did. The same can absolutely be said in the job market. Candidates are only going to refer their colleagues or acquaintances to a company or Recruiter if they feel the experience they had was a positive one. So how do hiring managers ensure that we have a pool of talent that we can garner referrals from? Simple, make a positive candidate experience a top priority for your hiring strategy.

Check out these simple and seemingly straight forward tips provided by RecruitingDaily.com to give your team the upper hand in creating a positive and welcoming candidate experience.

1. Engage job seekers in enjoyable conversation. This seems like a no-brainer but surprisingly many hiring Managers and Recruiters tend to keep conversations with prospective candidates as impersonal as possible. Where there can be a benefit to keeping the candidate relationship like any other business transaction, there is also a huge downside. It is basic human nature to trust those that make you feel at ease. Having easy and light conversations with your candidates can instantly make them feel more comfortable around you. This can even be achieved through personalized emails. Try to communicate in a friendly manner and ensure the candidates that you are always looking out for their best interest.
2. Respect the job seeker’s time. Time is valuable to everyone, including your job seekers. We all know how annoying it can be when we have an appointment set and it has to be cancelled or rescheduled last minute. If you make an appointment with a candidate, keep it. As you will be interviewing more and more candidates that are currently working elsewhere, it may be difficult for them to make the appointments or interviews in the first place so rescheduling or cancelling last minute can certainly put a bad taste in their mouth.
3. Keep job descriptions consistent. It is important to provide as much information up front in a job description posted online as possible. However, whether you include everything in the online ad or not, you must stay consistent with job details throughout the entire process. The information provided online should reflect what is discussed in the interview and pre-screenings. If something with the job changes, update your ads accordingly. This way the candidate already has a really good idea of what to expect when the interview process starts and isn’t in for any surprises along the way.
4. Respond clearly and within one week. Responding to candidates in a timely fashion may be the most important tip that is offered here. You have to remember that you are not the only person seeking out passive talent. It wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that your candidate has actually been contacted by 10 or more companies at the same time you reached out. With that said, staying in touch with your candidate is imperative. In the two extra days it takes for you to offer them the job, your competition may have already swooped in. Basically, you need to land the candidate before your competitor does.

By following these tips to improving the overall experience of your prospective candidates, you will find it much easier to not only fill current openings but also to fill your pipeline with experienced and eager referrals.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

1. Believe it or not, Recruiters WANT you to get the job! Most Recruiters, regardless of who or where they work, are paid on some kind of commission structure. This simply means that they earn a fee based on you make on the job that they placed you on. This DOES NOT come out of your pay but is added to the amount owed by the company that hired you. Why does this matter? It’s simple. First, because the fee is typically a % of your base salary, your Recruiter is going to try and get you the best pay rate possible, in essence the more you make, they more they make. With this in mind, always have the conversation with your Recruiter what you feel you are worth or what it is you are looking to get paid. The Recruiter can then try and negotiate on your behalf.
2. Recruiters will typically put the interests of the company first. While Recruiters do work with both candidates and companies to fill positions, the companies that seek out the Recruiters are, ultimately, the ones who foot the bill. What this means is that even though many Recruiters will agree that helping workers find their next job is the most rewarding part of their job, they have to focus on only presenting candidates who truly have a shot. As harsh as this sounds, it can work to your benefit. Recruiters will typically try and work with you to make you sound more appealing to Hiring Managers in order to get you hired for a job you feel you’re a fit. The key here is to listen!
3. Due to confidentiality agreements, Recruiters are not always able to divulge everything, especially early on in the process. Try not to get upset with a Recruiter if they are not able to provide all of the information regarding the company or position up front during the recruiting process. It is quite possible that the company in question has specifically asked this of the Recruiting team for one reason or another. In addition, when you’re told that you’re not a good fit for a position, simply ask if they can provide any constructive feedback as to why. Is the reason something in your control or is there something going on behind the scenes that truly does not have to do with your professional experience. Asking this question can help you better understand where to go next in your job search.
4. Recruiters may not know it all when it comes to the job in question. This can be especially true for positions that are extremely technical or specialized in nature. While Recruiters may become comfortable in using lingo in your industry, that doesn’t mean they know everything about everything. To feel more comfortable with the Recruiter you are working with, don’t be afraid to ask questions to gauge their knowledge of your field. The Recruiters that are doing this job for the right reasons will gladly answer your questions and if they are unsure of the answers will try and do more research to make sure you’re both on the same page.

Finding your next job or following a new career path is an extremely important stepping stone in anyone’s life and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. With that said, making sure that you and your Recruiter are in this together will make the task a lot less daunting, on both sides.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

According to a recent study sited by Forbes.com, the average time to hire in 2017 was 23.8 days, an increase of 13 days since 2010. With the job market feeling more crowded than ever, AI and ML are poised to make a huge impact on the recruiting and hiring process over the next few years, starting in 2019.

The greatest contribution that AI and ML can bring to the overall hiring process is freeing up time. The majority of the activities associated with locating, sorting through, qualifying and hiring talent are quite lengthy and time consuming. With the advent of AI and ML, the ability to gather and sort large amounts of data (including resumes, applications, etc.) at a much more efficient pace will ultimately free up HR professionals to act on potential hires, instead of weeding through them.

As with any new technology or improvement to business practice, the adoption of such advances will take time and will require quite a bit of adjustment and fundamental changes to the way that current HR programs are designed and implemented. These upgrades may come in the way of software programs, company policies, infrastructure changes and operational improvements all with the idea of creating a much more efficient, time saving hiring process in order to free up HR and recruiting professionals to build relationships and improve candidate engagement and retention. After all, in a job market as tight as this one, employee retention, engagement and overall satisfaction should be at top of mind for all companies looking to hire.

However, just keep in mind that adding AI and/or ML to a company’s hiring strategy is just one stepping stone in a line of upgraded practices for the recruiting process, on-boarding process and ultimately, the end goal of decreasing employee turnover.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

In today’s job market, it seems that every time the topic of labor shortages come up, the lack of skilled workers for trade positions in construction and in the manufacturing realm are in the forefront. Less and less students have been deciding that even if they are unsure what career path they want to go down, college is their only avenue. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 68% of high school students go to college with 40% never completing their degree. This is leaving highly paid and stable positions across the construction and manufacturing industries empty. Ultimately, we are left with the realization that the Baby Boomers who thrived with careers in these industries are starting to retire with no one to fill their shoes.

As I’ve mentioned before, the conversation regarding career options needs to start early! The idea of college being an end all beat all for post high school students needs to stop. Outside of the traditional 4-year degree, students have a variety of options available including vocational schools, trade specific training programs, online classes and even simply starting from the ground up. Sometimes the best way to learn a new trade is to start as entry-level as possible, observing those around you and gaining true on the job experience. But, don’t take my word for it. Educational leaders and even some of the nation’s most well known and profitable companies are jumping on board. David McGrath, an English Professor at the College of DuPage recently wrote an article regarding this very issue.

“We need to debunk the inference made by parents that vocational and technical jobs are inferior. Such a notion has led many of them to steer youngsters unwilling or unsuited for academic study into frustration, failure and depression. A campaign of public relations, parental education and cash is needed to combat the stigma.”

-David McGrath

Last spring, Glassdoor.com compiled a list of top employers that are expanding their talent pool by looking beyond the 4-year degree. Google, Apple, and IBM are all included in this progressive strategy in an attempt to bring in qualified and eager job seekers. In fact, Joanna Daley, IBM’s Vice President of Talent told CNBC that about 15% of IBM’s hires in the US do not have a college degree. IBM makes a point to include candidates with hands-on experience through coding boot-camps or even vocational classes.

The conversation needs to start now, whether that starts with school counselors or parents at home with their kids. We need to get rid of the stigma behind not going to college and provide our students with the support and proper education on available alternatives. Bottom line, college is not the answer for everyone and that is something worth shouting from the rooftops.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 98 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Many of you may already notice a few similar trends going into the new year. For one, Technology will continue to stand at the forefront for companies and applicants alike. The paper resume is becoming more and more scarce and obsolete and the need/desire for instant communication and gratification will only continue to increase. The advent and application of new technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) and text messaging capabilities in the recruiting, hiring and job search process will continue on an upward trajectory.

In addition, mobile traffic and usage when it comes to searching for jobs is only expected to grow. According to glassdoor.com, 45% of job seekers use a mobile device at least once per day in their job search and 89% use mobile platforms throughout the entire job search process. With this said, only 16% of applications are typically submitted via mobile. It is possible that with new technologies and the progression in smart phone capabilities that this too could be on the rise. Now is the time to beef up and improve the efficiency of not only your desktop platforms but your mobile platforms as well.

The long and short of it is simple, if you and your company are already paying close attention to these trends and understand their implications, you’re already a step ahead as we enter 2019. However, if that is not necessarily the case, do some research and try and determine where your recruiting process is missing the mark. Gone are the days of posting an ad and waiting for applications to pour in. Recruiters need to engage with potential candidates before, during and after the hiring process to cultivate a true relationship. This will, in turn, increase candidate retention and could even increase referral traffic!

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 450 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

According to Staffinghubs.com, the following statistics were found after surveying 350 Human Resources leaders across the country.

• Only 40% of respondents said that their on-boarding program was successful at retaining new hires
• Nearly a quarter indicated they have no on-boarding program at all.
• More than half of those survey said that managers don’t have time to dedicate to improving the on-boarding process.
• 60% say that the purpose of on-boarding is to integrate new employees into the company culture, but only 30% indicate that their on-boarding process focuses on culture.

What does this tell us? Basically, that the low unemployment rate and qualified worker shortage isn’t the only reason that companies are struggling to locate and retain top talent. It is extremely important to remember that the on-boarding process is one of the 1st introductions to your company for a new hire. If the process is too lengthy, feels disconnected from the company culture or paints your company with an unflattering light, this could be enough to deter a would-be candidate from continuing on in the process.

It is true that on-boarding can feel like a daunting process for companies large and small. However, if this is the case for your company, there are staffing companies out there that specialize in the paperwork and administration side of on-boarding, allowing your company to focus on the long term success of each new hire. As we have entered fourth quarter in 2018, the ball is certainly still in the employee’s court, forcing companies to adapt new policies and upgrade existing processes in order to attract what talent is out there and seeking work. The result of studies such as this one is proof that with a few tweaks to internal processes, companies can once again regain the competitive advantage. For more information, please visit www.kronos.com for the full report.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Today, most in-person job fairs are far less successful than they were even just a few years ago. What candidates want to spend half a day getting ready, printing a resume, driving across town, waiting in line to speak with someone, only to turn around and drive back home? Only those who know there is a direct benefit to them and that they’ll have an increased chance of being hired for their dream job. So how do you make that happen? Just like this…

• Ditch the tombstone ads. If people aren’t looking for jobs in the newspaper, they certainly aren’t looking there for a job fair ad.
• SEO is your new best friend. Power pack your social media channels, blog, company site, and internal job board with SEO rich content for the event. Speaking of friends, have them “like”, share, and comment on your event.
• Clearly outline the benefits to attending. Will the hiring manager or decision maker be present? Are you offering on the spot interviews? Are you willing to schedule meetings ahead of time so candidates don’t have to wait in line? Can someone be hired “on the spot”? Give your audience a clear picture of what they can expect and a call to action.
• Have the right players present. Don’t send interns, assistants, or those who aren’t directly responsible for hiring for your positions. Why waste their time or yours? Candidates feel that they have a more direct avenue through emailing a resume than meeting with a non-decision maker in person. Show them that you value their time enough to show up.
• Make your process smooth and modern. Are you accepting paper resumes? Don’t be. Have candidates apply online ahead of time so that the time spent with you at the event is spent discussing their qualifications and goals instead of how to apply for the position. This also allows you to schedule appointments in advance, giving candidates a sense of purpose for attending.
• Follow up. Don’t return to the office and dive right into what you missed. Follow up with candidates first and schedule any second interviews necessary while the information is still fresh with you.
• Measure your return. If you find that you are only seeing a very small number of candidates at these events but the quality of candidate is high it may justify the efforts. If you have a large turn out but few qualified applicants, a job fair may not be your best recruiting avenue. Don’t be afraid to stop participating in job fairs that traditionally were a large part of your recruiting process, the job market has changed and it may be time for a change in recruiting strategies.

Each industry and set of positions has it’s own set of unique recruiting challenges. Certain skill sets just aren’t likely to engage in an in person job fair. For those technical and more professional candidates, consider hosting a virtual or online job fair. This will appeal to passive candidates who are in confidential job searches or unable to attend your event.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent?Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.