The last week has been an uncertain time for the thousands of South Africans who run and are employed by small businesses. The narrative we’ve all been seeing play out online and on social media paints a bleak picture of possible retrenchments and job losses, but what if there was another perspective to consider?
Could now be a good opportunity for companies to recruit that perfect team member and for job-seekers to land that dream job? Business consultancy CN&CO together with In Place Recruitment share some thoughts about why now might actually be the best time to build and grow your team.
With the understanding and compassion that this won’t be applicable to all industries and companies and that there are impossible decisions being made in business across the country, here are some key points to consider:
Don’t push pause
Not all companies have stopped recruiting. In our skills-short market, hard-to-fill vacancies will still be there when these crazy times are over. Now is the ideal time to engage with potential candidates. You don’t want to be left behind because you paused your recruitment.
The talent pool is full
There are more candidates in the talent pool currently looking for work or open to conversations than we have seen in a long time. The time is ripe to speak to potential candidates, especially regarding roles you are struggling to fill.
Online is the order of the day
Your entire recruitment process can be digitized, keeping everyone safe while still actively recruiting. All the admin can be done online, and face-to-face interviews are made possible using video conferencing tools such as Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WeChat Work and Slack.
Time is of the essence
Recruitment processes can take up to three months, especially when looking for hard-to-find skills. With potential candidates all locked down at home, this is a great time to jump in and find that perfect new hire quickly and effectively.
There’s nowhere to hide…
Remember all those hard-to-reach candidates you’ve been trying to track down for months? Well, for the next couple of weeks you know exactly where they are. Time to move in and set up an appointment.
Connect and share opportunities with other South African businesses in our SA Small Businesses Unlocked Facebook Group.
