RECRUITMENT WITHOUT BARRIERS: WIDENING THE TALENT POOL 

Covid-19 has triggered the world’s biggest remote work experiment, as a consequence have we witnessed the change in the definition of what is work, how it gets done, where it get done and who does it?  Without really realising it we have moved into the era of remote teams, flexible working and working from home.

This weeks announcement of Video conferencing firm Zoom $14.7bn deal to buy a cloud-based call centre operator Five9 seems to be a positive marker for the future of working from home and/or flexible working. The pandemic, which prompted an abrupt shift to remote work for many businesses around the world, transformed Zoom into a household name practically overnight. Google and Microsoft have also invested heavily in their video conferencing offerings in the past 12 months.

Pre-pandemic, most companies accepted the notion that you could only perform at the highest level if you showed up at the office every day. But today, companies are looking outside the office, outside the city, even outside the country, tapping into the global talent pool to find the right person for the job. With the UK’s productivity rate currently the second lowest in the G7, many companies are looking at how to maximise productivity, many are  looking towards embracing new working practices as a means of increasing output; the option to work from home is currently offered by 65% of employers, and with one in five workers feeling more productive when working remotely, this trend comes as no surprise.

Accessing the best talent

This new working landscape benefits both the employer and the employee – companies can access the best talent, and candidates have access to great jobs, which in turn elevates local economies around the world. For those recruiting offering remote working is one of the most important company benefits for nearly 1 in 5 of employees. In fact, working from home is sought after more than enhanced parental leave, travel allowances and, most surprisingly, learning and development schemes. Candidates are searching for a company that cares. But really, for those recruiting, by not evolving and offering employees a solution to work remotely, some companies may be at a standstill and limiting their talent resources. Top candidates know their worth, and the progressive companies are those that end up winning the most coveted talent. As a hiring manager, why limit the scope of your talent pool by geographical region when you can tap into the brightest candidates by broadening your search nationally?
The business case for remote work and work flexibility presents many compelling benefits. It has already been mentioned that remote working has a positive effect on productivity but there are also the positive environmental impact benefits and increased loyalty from employees. One of the less-discussed benefits of remote work is its ability to help employers create a diverse workforce.

How does Remote Working Diversify the Hiring process? 

In general, when you look to recruit your talent pool can be massively limited by geographic location; only those that live in a commutable distance or are willing to relocate are going to apply. With some companies not located in the main ‘attractive’ locations you will have a even smaller group of available candidates and the even more diversity challenges.  Although it is possible to overcome the ‘local limits’ through changes of approaches to your its recruitment, this might not be enough. Candidates will have to relocate to be closer to your in-person company. And if you’re asking them to move to a less diverse community or join a less diverse company, candidates may not be willing to work for you.
A remote company, though, is not limited by location. When you have an open position with Remote Working, you can choose from a pool of top talent from around the country, and you don’t have to ask them to relocate, they can live wherever they feel most comfortable and productive. Beyond the ability to choose from the best of the best, remote work also helps you recruit and hire people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information about Remote Working Recruitment and/or working with Campbell & Fletcher Recruitment then please either contact us here or call us on 0161 932 1722.

The Top 3 areas of the UK where Remote Working is one of the most important benefits:

However, employees in the following regions are less interested in this benefit: