Global talent assessment platform provider - Thomas International - recently conducted research with over 500 HR and Talent leaders across a variety of sectors. The result of this suggests that recruitment processes in the UK are broken, with more than half of all new hires not working out as planned.
The managers researched were asked how they hire; the common challenges they face; what works in their hiring process and what does not - as 57 per cent of new hires made in the last 12 months are not working out in some way and 25 per cent are not working at all.
The result of the research disclosed a trust gap in recruitment, which is growing. Of the 500 senior managers and recruiters researched, 46 per cent found that there was a poor job fit between the role being offered and the applicant and 44 per cent found a poor job fit between the applicant and culture. These are the two top reasons found for the hires not being successful.
After the disorder caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the average cost in the UK of hiring a new employee was found to have escalated to £3,000 - as businesses are battling to return to normal.
Additionally, the research has shown up an assortment of issues are at the base of the failed hires and undermining trust in the recruiting procedure. These were found to be complicated and drawn-out processes, as cited by 31 per cent of respondents; an inability to test culture or role fit by 31 per cent and over dependence on gut instinct by 29 per cent of respondents. Nearly a third of managers researched quoted a lack of transparency, while 41 per cent state that finding the right candidate in a remote hiring environment has been their biggest recruitment challenge. However, it has been suggested that recruitment was broken since before the pandemic.
Sabby Gill - CEO of Thomas International - stated:
“Recruitment is broken. Businesses that don’t take action to fix it will face significant challenges as they look to accelerate hiring over the next couple of years, establish workforces that are fit for the future, and rebuild and reshape teams to take advantage of new economic opportunities.”
The report on the research states that 30 per cent are in agreement and think that it is vital that recruitment procedures are improved - with 55 per cent stating it is important to evolve hiring systems and to launch a different approach to recruitment. If executed well, this will close the trust gap that is undermining hiring.
It cannot be ignored that remote working due to the virus is having an impact on recruitment - 44 per cent of businesses said that it is their biggest driver of reshaping existing hiring practices.
Sabby Gill added:
“Recruitment is on the rise in 2021 after a slow year, so getting things right is vital. Hiring managers need to look beyond the CV to an individual’s true potential. If you find the right person – through aptitude and behavioural testing – then you don’t need to worry about which university degree they have. With the right training, apprenticeship schemes and more, British businesses can not only solve the skills gaps they’re facing now, but also plan ahead for the jobs in the future that don’t even exist yet.”
