As the owner of a recruitment company, you've likely discovered that the traditional 9-5 office model no longer cuts it for many recruitment candidates. Despite the push for full-time in-office work, recruiters are flocking to companies that offer flexible and hybrid work options over those that don't. Clearly, the current workforce values balance and freedom above all else. So, if you're looking to attract top talent, it's time to embrace the future of work and offer the flexibility your candidates crave.
In this blog post we'll discuss why flexible working is essential for modern businesses like yours and how to ensure that your offerings meet both the needs of prospective hires and the company.
Some might think, "But why do we need to keep offering flexible working? Can't we go back to the old way of doing things, it was more productive?" Not if you want to attract the best recruitment graduates and senior recruiters to your company.
These days, more and more people are prioritising flexible and hybrid working when looking for a new company. Our recent poll on Linkedin found that 55% wanted 2-3 days or more working from home, while only 6% said they would go into the office full time. And it's not hard to see why. With all the technological advances, people are no longer tied to their offices to get work done. They can work from anywhere - their home office, a coffee shop, or even a beach in Bali. And that kind of flexibility is incredibly appealing to today's workforce.
So, if you want to attract the best talent to your company - whether recent graduates or more senior professionals - you need to offer flexible work. But how do you make it work,
First of all, you need to trust your employees. There's a common misconception that people who work from home are lazy or unproductive. But in reality, most people are just as productive (if not more so) when working from home. They're not distracted by office chatter, don't have to commute and can adjust the work environment to suit them. Usually, it's a lack of structure, guidance, and communication that can lead to reduced productivity - not laziness.
To make your set-up work, you might have to make some changes and set some boundaries, but do not give up altogether.
Follow our below tips to make positive adjustments to create a productive work-from-home hybrid model.
Set clear expectations and goals: This includes providing your recruitment hires with a detailed job description, outlining their duties and daily responsibilities, and setting achievable goals aligned with the company's objectives that are easy to follow. Being able to check your employees are meeting requirements may mean having measurables to track against as they are not physically present in the office. Be sure to communicate these measurables with your staff so everyone is on the same page.
Provide the right tools and technology: Your employees need access to reliable internet and phone services, software, and hardware to perform their job functions efficiently. Discuss their homework set-up when starting a new recruitment job with you and determine whether WFH is a realistic option. You will want to check the following:
Internet speed and reliability
Phone signal
Desk set up
Available workspace
Distractions
Building a picture of the home environment will help you understand what barriers to productive working your employees face individually.
Establish regular check-ins and communication: Working from home can be isolating, so it's crucial to establish a regulated check-in system so no one gets left behind. This should include regular daily contact via different communication methods such as video, phone, instant messages and email. Regular contact helps keep employees motivated, focused, and on track with their goals and provides adequate open communication channels for questions or requests for help when needed.
Encourage breaks and exercise: Sitting at a desk for hours can harm productivity and overall health and can be easily ignored when working from home. Encourage your recruiters to take regular breaks throughout the day to stretch, move, and take a mental break. Encouraging workday exercise can also help boost productivity and overall health.
Provide opportunities for professional development while at home: The days working from home can sometimes feel stagnant and isolating, leading to decreased productivity. Providing employees with opportunities for professional development, such as online and virtual training programs, mentorship, or networking events, helps keep them engaged and motivated in their work, even outside of the office environment.
Be open about working from home expectations: If looking after children in the background or travelling to a weekend destination during work hours isn't acceptable, then make that clear from the start. Be open and honest about your recruitment company's expectations of a work-from-home day, and raise issues immediately to address them before problems escalate.
So if you want to attract the best and brightest talent to your company, you must offer flexible working. It's not just a perk - it's a necessity. And with the right mindset and tools, it can benefit your employees and your business.
Get in touch for more information on how to best promote your business and offerings or to discuss potential recruitment candidates for your current openings.