2020 has been a roller coaster and we’re only halfway through. When you’re looking to expand your team or replace outgoing employees, it can be really tough to know where to start at the moment. At Appoint, we get asked frequently, “Is the best talent in the market really looking for work at the moment?” Well, that depends, and here’s why.

The ‘yes’ case

High-value prospects are looking for work right now, but may be a little hard to spot. They’re not necessarily waving a flag advertising themselves as ‘on the market’. But if you know where to look, (or you have skilled recruiters on the task for you), you may find rich pickings for the role you have to fill.

COVID-19 has flipped the employment landscape on its head. You’ve probably heard the new buzz term ‘pivot’ bandied around a lot since the pandemic began. Companies have had to ramp up their creativity and innovation to survive. Some have done a brilliant job of branding themselves as ideal employers in this unusual climate. With so much uncertainty in the world, security, stability and being valued as an employee are more important than ever. Any person who is feeling less than comfortable in their current job might be easily tempted to jump ship.

At the other end of the scale, there are companies that have not handled the crisis well and their employees have been left feeling vulnerable and on shaky ground. It’s these people – talented, reliable, committed people – who are particularly open to hearing about other opportunities, especially if they feel their roles are not ‘essential’.

With COVID-19 changing the way work is done in many organisations, your ideal new hire might be more approachable. For those working from home, they find themselves with more time to talk, without their boss or colleagues hearing them.

The pool is deeper than you may think. Consider how many people have been made redundant in recent months, or maybe they’ve had their hours drastically reduced, all through no fault of their own. Now, more than ever, there’s a greater passive pool that you can tap into but you must be proactive and reach out to them because they’re not applying to job ads. Loyalty to their employer and not knowing what could happen if they change jobs are both big reasons why so many not actively putting themselves out there.

The ‘no’ case

Flip the coin and you’ll see that the ‘no’ case has merit too, for pretty much the opposite reasons. If an employer is rock solid and making its way through COVID-19 with strength, stability and future focus, a smart employee will stay put. To attract these people, you’d have to be able to prove you have a reliable workload for them and be actively promoting your organisation as one that’s awesome to work for.

Don’t forget loyalty. Companies that treat their teams well have lower attrition rates and even in trying circumstances like these, staff will often stay with the familiar and comfortable, regardless of the current climate.

The federal government’s JobKeeper program is blocking counteroffers for obvious reasons. Employers who have JobKeeper are more motivated than ever to retain good workers and with the additional financial assistance, they can afford to offer more money to keep them. Also, anyone new they take on would not be eligible for JobKeeper.

Then there are those roles that are really difficult to fill – I’m looking at you, Dam Engineer! COVID-19 or not, demand for great talent in niche roles means the pickings are slim (but not impossible to find).

And don’t forget that the best-and-brightest candidates for your role might currently live interstate. Tapping into a national pool is usually a smart idea but when employees have to quarantine for two weeks before starting, the logistics can be nightmarish.

Utilise professional recruiters

If you have roles to fill, utilising a professional recruitment firm is one of the wisest decisions you’ll make in this crazy 2020. A savvy recruitment agency will have the know-how and the networks to tap into passive pools of candidates which is where the powers of persuasion come in very handy.

Great recruiters can also help you to promote your brand and market your proposition so your company is compelling to potential new hires. They act as trusted advisors to candidates and gain a deep understanding of what motivates them. They can also discuss advance counteroffers and other attracting factors so you are posed and ready to make the right choice for your business.

Are you looking to hire right now? Call us for a chat about your needs today.