At the heart of every business, no matter what industry they are engaged in, are the people. Employees are vital to the success of any company and no matter what changes we make in the way that we work – hot-desking, flexible working hours, working from home – people will always be necessary. As we head into 2020, we are finding ourselves faced with a shortage of talent and significant skills gaps in the workforce, yet the job market will remain just as competitive as it has always been. With an increase in technology in the workplace, and more importantly, how we use it, then it is essential to look to the future trends when it comes to recruiting.


The recruiter

In order to fill the gap that exists due to a shortage of workers, employers will be looking for those individuals who have the potential to fill a role and improve their experience and qualifications in a job, rather than looking for the exact candidate to fill a more static role. This means that the job of the recruiter will be that little bit harder. Not only is there a need to look for someone who appears to be the right fit for a company but it will also be necessary to see the potential in any candidates you already have on the books in order to be able to place them in roles where they will grow. Paying attention to soft skills has never been more critical; strong communication and the ability to be organised as well as being adaptable may actually be more important than having the relevant experience to match the description of a job.


The hirer

2020 brings with an even greater need to ensure that you keep that great hire. They need to be engaged with the role that they are hired for, and that means offering an experience that stands out. In short, employers need to be fully on board to foster a sense of growth for both individual employees and the team as a whole. Engaged employees are more productive, and those employees who do not feel actively engaged are far more likely to be looking for another role elsewhere. Inclusivity and diversity are key, and if the management of a company is not ready to commit, then you may face an uphill struggle. In conclusion, it is vital that managers and leaders are educated as to the benefits to be had from employing a more diverse and inclusive workforce that will offer considerable benefits to their company.