As part of your broader strategic staffing initiative, consider making bold hiring decisions at the end of the year. Refining your workforce before the start of 2015 has a number of benefits you simply can’t take advantage of once the new year comes. Here are a few you might not be aware of:
Draw from a Larger Candidate Pool
The end of the year is a natural time for reflection, and there is a measurable uptick in the number of professionals deciding to make a career change. By posting a vacancy notice in December, you grab the attention of the candidates who are most motivated to find something new, and you have a more diverse candidate pool to draw from because they haven’t been recruited by other companies yet.
Lock in Your Hiring Budget for the New Year
If you let a vacant position go unfilled into the new year, you are at risk of reducing your hiring budget for the next year. Make sure that you have the budget you need to make smart workforce decisions by filling that vacancy now and locking in those hiring dollars for 2015.
Gain a Strategic Advantage
Many companies spend December working at a slower pace and take an extended vacation at the end of the month. That means they are probably not prioritizing recruiting. If you need to fill a vacancy, you have a lot less competition from other businesses in your industry if you make an extra push in December. That can help you connect with top talent that might be lured away at other times of the year.
Take Advantage of Increase Vetting
Even if your company is slowing down in December, it doesn’t have to hurt your recruitment efforts. Use the extra time and leisurely pace to put added energy into reading resumes and holding interviews. You may be able to bring in stakeholders and decision makers that would be too busy to offer their input at other times of the year.
Show Off Your Company Culture
Companies are increasingly using company culture as a way to attract top talent. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to “demonstrate” that culture when giving a candidate a tour of a bland office on a normal workday. The parties, decorations, good cheer, and general camaraderie of the holiday season are all great tools for introducing exciting candidates to what is best about your company culture.
December is a great time to make hiring a priority, but there is not much time left in the month. Connect quickly with qualified and experience professionals by relying on staffing solutions from The Squires Group.
