3 Steps to Choosing the Best Hiring and Talent Technology

Hiring has changed beyond all recognition since the pandemic struck earlier this year. In response, hiring organisations have been forced to adopt new digital strategies to engage, hire and onboard talent, which will inevitably have a long-term impact on the industry.

Today’s talent leaders are challenged on how to effectively harness talent technology within a new operating model; one that supports the end-to-end talent process and drives strong performance. However, rushing to digitally transform hiring practices could come at a heavy price. Choosing and integrating the right talent technology for the right reasons needs significant thought and planning; otherwise companies run the risk of losing time, money and the reputation of their employer brand.

AGS has over 20 years’ experience helping our clients embed new talent acquisition technology. Here, we offer three best practices that put your hiring department in good shape for the new era, while avoiding the usual pitfalls that lead to dissatisfaction with TA platforms.

1. Put Candidate Experience Front and Centre

Candidate experience comes first above all else. Lockdown has accelerated our online buying habits, with businesses moving to a digital strategy to meet the demand of online buying trends. Finding a job is no different. Aim to excite your candidate by creating an experience that makes them feel valued and connected. Automation can help, but remember real people need to be involved at the right stage.

Tip: Walk a mile in your applicants’ shoes.

AGS’ service design practitioners use empathy and experience journey mapping to reduce friction points and ensure a process that delivers the best talent speedily.

2. Don’t be Dazzled by Talent Technology Features

Talent technology is constantly evolving and offers lots of bells and whistles to help your talent acquisition (TA) team work their magic. But some tech features will be superfluous if your recruiters and hiring managers cannot see the value of using the technology. Make sure you invest in a mix of talent technology that improves the hiring process for all users: hiring managers, recruiters and management alike. If people don’t actually enjoy the experience or fail to fully understand how to operate the technology, it could cause serious damage to your ability to hire.

Tip: Training is essential to success here.

AGS creates system guides for all users and trains each individual to fully utilise all relevant aspects of the TA tech.

3. Have One Eye on the Future

Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace; you need to invest in software that evolves, too. When selecting the appropriate tech, make sure it meets your business requirements today and is ready for tomorrow. Ensure it is scalable enough to support future growth plans and can integrate with the systems used by existing or future technology partners.

Tip: Understand what new talent technologies are on the horizon

At AGS, our team of global technologists constantly assess the latest releases that complement our platforms, supported by market research and advisory partners.

Buying talent technology is not difficult, buying the right technology can be.

Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of HR Grapevine magazine.