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🔔 Urgent Call to Address Prolonged Time-to-Hire in Permanent Recruitment 🔔 In the competitive UK job market, an efficient time-to-hire is not just a metric of recruitment efficiency; it's a critical element of fair and respectful treatment of candidates. Looking at our activity over the past year, the average duration from receiving a job role to securing an accepted offer has stretched to a staggering 100 days! This protracted timeline is not only detrimental to business productivity but also profoundly unfair to candidates, who are often left in a state of uncertainty. The UK job market is exceptionally challenging for candidates, who must navigate through lengthy and often opaque hiring processes. As recruiters, we find ourselves in a difficult position, trying to maintain candidate engagement over extended periods. Keeping candidates "warm" while they endure long waits can strain our resources and relationships, leading to a significant emotional toll on both candidates and recruiters. It's imperative that businesses recognise the human aspect of recruitment. Keeping candidates waiting excessively is more than just an inconvenience—it can be a deeply discouraging experience, potentially pushing top talent towards more responsive competitors. Businesses must understand that once the decision to recruit is made, it is their responsibility to prioritise and streamline the hiring process. Organisations must take decisive action to address these extended hiring timelines: 🕰 Set Clear Timelines and Adhere to Them: Establish and communicate clear deadlines for each stage of the recruitment process, and make every effort to stick to these timelines. ☎ Prioritise Efficient Communication: Keeping candidates well-informed throughout the process is not just good practice; it's a basic courtesy that can significantly enhance the candidate experience and ease the burden on recruiters. 👨💻 Embrace Recruitment Technologies: Tools such as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and AI can drastically reduce the time spent on sourcing and screening candidates, enabling faster and more efficient hiring decisions. The extended time-to-hire in the UK's recruitment landscape is more than a logistical issue; it is a matter of fairness and respect for candidates and a challenge for recruiters trying to bridge the gap between businesses and job seekers. Companies must commit to reviewing and refining their recruitment processes, ensuring they are as efficient and candidate-friendly as possible. In doing so, they will not only improve their operational effectiveness but also build a reputation as considerate and desirable employers.
Senior Recruiter at Kier Group
2moGreat post Hannah