In the world of hiring, finding the right talent can be a challenging task. As an employer, you want to ensure that your hiring process is efficient, effective and yields the best possible results. Whether you are dealing with tight deadlines or the pressure of meeting recruitment targets, the challenges of hiring can be daunting.

From conducting comprehensive background checks to embracing HR technology, the key is to stay ahead of the curve and leverage the latest tools, data, and techniques. It’s important for employers to know that there are proven strategies that can help to navigate the hiring landscape, find the perfect fit for your organisation and reduce hiring attrition rates. Here are my top four challenges that employers should be identifying and tackling – in efforts to keep the wheels of recruitment running smoothly.

1. Recruiting internally or externally
If you’re aiming to grow your workforce, gain additional knowledge and skills or improve diversity, then you may want to consider looking externally for candidates.

However, employers may also want to consider who they already have within their business too. Existing employees may have the relevant skills that aren’t currently being utilised they could have recently undergone a change in circumstances meaning they’re looking for a different role; or maybe they’re in need of a fresh challenge.

There are also plenty of business benefits to recruiting internally, such as the employee already being accustomed to company culture and values, the process being more time efficient, and the chance of progression could mean better employee engagement and detract those from moving elsewhere.

2. Finding the right person in a timely manner
Finding a stellar CV and ensuring the experience matches up can be a time-consuming process for employers. Therefore, outsourcing pre-employment screening can be extremely beneficial in this scenario.

Outsourcing your pre-employment screening, creates extra capacity within internal HR teams and allows for the process to be performed quickly and efficiently – giving you all the information you need as fast as possible. This saves time and resources through streamlined processes and established procedures and reduces hiring drop outs.

3. Conducting efficient background checks
Background checks are vital to help find the right candidate, avoid bad hires and protect your business, employees, and customers. In the UK all employers, irrespective of size or sector, are required by law to check their employees have the Right to Work in the UK. Failure to do so can result in imprisonment or costly fines being imposed and publicised by the Home Office (Immigration)

Efficient screening checks provide employers with valuable insights into a candidate’s background, helping to make better informed decisions, mitigate risks, protect their reputation, and comply with any legal requirements.

4. Impressing great candidates with swift and simple processes
The biggest challenge when recruiting new employees is finding the right person for the role. This, along with an extremely competitive market for talent, means employers must ensure that they’re creating the best candidate experience possible to not only recruit, but, more importantly, retain talent. A long and complex onboarding process can have the very opposite effect, giving a prospective employee a negative impression of your company even before a candidate’s first day.

The role of technology
Employers can tackle the challenge of insufficient recruitment processes by turning to technology and the use of quality data, robotics, and AI. The place of technology in today’s recruitment ecosystem can’t be overemphasised. The right technology has the ability to improve businesses overall time, money, and efforts – simplifying and streamlining your onboarding process for both HR teams and candidates alike.

Each step in the recruitment process offers ways to improve your candidate’s experience if preformed correctly and captured “right first time” – the pre-employment screening process is no exception to that. The candidate verification process can help to keep your candidates engaged and give them a better onboarding experience. Any organisation with a reputation for a swift and uncomplicated hiring journey, utilising the very latest technology will easily attract new candidates and make the recruitment process more efficient.  This in return will reduce a loss in overall revenue and hidden overheads.

The application of technology involves using innovative ways and data to our improve processes, making them faster, more accurate, and streamlined. In an increasingly digital work environment where time is a pressing factor, leveraging technology can lead to better outcomes and alleviate the pressure on all parties involved. Candidates will no longer except lengthy hiring times and now demand, a quick and slick multi-device and mobile optimised solution.