As the U.S. begins to recover from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the country are resuming their previous jobs, starting new positions, rethinking their careers, and looking to establish a sense of normalcy.
Before the pandemic ravaged the nation, the workforce saw more open positions than employees available to fill those positions. High demand, low supply. That abruptly turned upside-down once the full brunt of the pandemic hit. Labor demand became low, and labor supply became high. For employees who held onto their jobs during the turmoil, more was often expected of them as businesses fought to stay afloat.
The pivot to the pre-pandemic status quo
The return to a candidate-driven market (high demand, low supply) is gradually taking place across the country. Given that we’ve not seen a health crisis of this magnitude in our lifetime, however, there is no clear-cut set path to follow. Add to that, COVID variants and mutations, along with less-than-optimal vaccination rates across the globe, continue to threaten the stability of the pandemic recovery.
During the job market’s fluctuations and steps toward greater stability, hiring managers have to be flexible in their approach to hiring. Markets will require different tactics to attract and retain talent. Organizational plans prepared for various functional areas of your company may need to be adjusted. You may need to make different decisions about allocating resources to pursue your overall business direction.
We’re still finding our way
Hiring managers must keep in mind that candidates may have longer gaps in employment or shorter engagements with companies as a result of the pandemic. Focusing on the basics – competencies, transferable skills, and behavior traits – will bring the right candidates to the right roles.
You may have seen the recent surveys that claim employees are now ready to leave their employers in record numbers, the ramifications of the pandemic highlighting their dissatisfaction and motivating them to make big changes. It’s true that a percentage of candidates may decide to change careers or industries and took some initial steps to obtain training and certifications during the lockdowns. It’s also true that humans crave stability and work-life balance. The pandemic has been disruptive on many levels, and people are looking to the familiar for a sense of control and dependability.
Raissa Charon, managing partner at AimHire: “The CDC has listed some of the common psychological reactions to the pandemic as feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, or frustration, as well as difficulty concentrating and making decisions. As a mentor and advocate of the staffing and recruiting industry, I know that employees long for a sense of control, for everyday routines and practices. They want to rededicate themselves to their own professional success and have a deep-seated desire to contribute to the company they work for. The trauma brought about by the sudden changes imposed by the pandemic can and will create resilience and strength for employees and employers alike. Change will lead to stronger companies and more satisfied workers.”
Sharon Neher, managing partner at AimHire, adds: “One of the enduring trends in Human Resources I see for 2021 and beyond is companies investing in mental health and well-being initiatives. Having been in the industry for over twenty years, I know that people look for the helpful consequences of what they’re going through. For example, one positive outcome of the pandemic is that remote work has helped the employee experience; McKinsey reports increased engagement and well-being among U.S.-based employees. That’s great news, and it confirms that the challenges brought about by the pandemic reinforce people’s need to adapt, develop their skills, and bring to the fore the personal and professional fundamentals they know make life worth living.”
Some of the modifications we’ll see in the post-pandemic hiring process may reflect situational changes that are here to stay. Other variations may be temporary as employees and employers alike seek to regain their equilibrium once any necessary adjustments and course-corrections are made.
About AimHire
AimHire is a full-service recruiting and staffing firm offering temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire services. The firm supports a broad range of industries including healthcare, commercial real estate, mortgage, insurance, oil & gas, start-ups and emerging tech companies. AimHire specializes in staffing administrative, clerical and customer service positions, as well as HR, accounting, finance, marketing and other corporate positions. Founded in 2010, AimHire is committed to creating a culture of compassion, trust and growth for its employees and the Denver community. Feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
