What to Do When Your Job Orders Are High, but Talent Numbers Are Low

The staffing industry feels the ebbs and flows of the economy perhaps stronger than any other industry

When the economy is sluggish, you have plenty of applicants, but not enough job orders. When the economy is strong, clients look to you to provide candidates, but you may find that the pool of available talent has all but dried up and you may have to dig a little deeper to find the people you need.

Consider these resources you may not have yet explored:

Your Pipeline. Take a second look at the talent in your current pipeline. Go a year or two into your archives to find candidates who may no longer be satisfied in their jobs. Ask for an updated resume and an outline of what they are looking for in their next position.

Your Network. Nearly everyone knows someone who is looking for a job or is at least approachable. Reach out to everyone you know and don’t be afraid to ask.

Current or Former Candidates. Ask candidates who else they know who is looking for a job. Consider an email blast to cover a lot of ground quickly. People in the market for work may be involved in groups or networks of similarly minded people and can get the word out fast.

Processes that may need to be revamped:

Job Postings. Do your open positions look compelling or is your writing style too dry? Don’t be afraid to be a little salesy in your tone to play up the job’s features and benefits. Check that your terminology or style will attract the right people.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Reexamine how you parse applications. Are you eliminating people prematurely? Are applicants abandoning applications before they are complete? Are they getting kicked out because of glitches? Automating systems doesn’t mean that you can neglect monitoring and correcting. Don’t micromanage your ATS, but tweak it periodically to ensure you get the results you want.

Candidate Experience. Are your candidates treated well every step of the way? Make your online application simple and user-friendly. Communicate with them regularly throughout the process and make sure they are made to feel welcome by everyone they encounter in your firm.

Many of these strategies can be enhanced with the right staffing software, like the solutions available through Avionte. At Avionté, we provide solutions for staffing firms that help you operate more effectively and keep your operational costs down.

About Avionté:

Avionté’s comprehensive staffing software delivers integrated software systems that make it easier to drive growth, maximize profitability and streamline your administrative tasks, so that you can focus on your serving your customers. To learn more about the many benefits of Avionté staffing software, contact us today.