The world is evolving at an alarming rate. As a result, businesses have to adapt to be able to find the right talent to take their organizations into the future. To fulfil this need, companies need to begin by addressing their HR practices.

From finding the right candidates to engaging employees at work, HR Managers have a lot of responsibilities. Here are four HR trends to watch for the future.

AI-driven recruitment

Technology is changing HR as a whole. With AI-driven processes and automation, HR Professionals can clear up time for more high-value tasks. Repetitive duties are getting diverted to AI, particularly when it comes to candidate screening and employee onboarding.

AI-driven recruitment uses programs like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan applications for relevant keywords and terms. If the resumé meets the threshold, it’s flagged for human review. From there, centralized onboarding platforms keep everything streamlined and organized so an employee can work through the steps without drowning in paperwork.

AI-driven recruiting is also resulting in a rise in psychometric testing, which we’ll go into a bit later. As a job searcher, creating a resumé that uses keywords in a natural way that’s easy to read is essential. You can try ResumeBuild to find a template that appeals to both human HR Professionals and ATS. 

Flexibility and remote work

Cloud technology has revolutionized how we share information. You’re no longer required to send something via thumb drive or as a zipped email attachment. Instead, you can drop a file in Dropbox or Google Drive and have it appear on your coworker’s computer instantaneously. 

As a result, more organizations realize that they don’t need employees in the office from nine-to-five, Monday to Friday. Now businesses are hiring with flexibility and remote work in mind.

From a recruiting standpoint, opting for remote workers broadens the hiring pool and allows companies to draw top talent from all over the world. It also creates the potential for lower overhead costs and improved employee engagement. 

If you are a job searcher, look for employers who prioritize flexibility and remote work –  they’re preparing for future sustainability and success.

Hiring for soft skills

Soft skills are those qualities that are hard to measure. You don’t have a degree in time management or a background in team collaboration skills. However, for many hiring managers, soft skills are more important than experience and education.

This is where psychometric testing comes in. Using personality tests in the prescreening process helps hiring managers to identify the hidden gems in the applicant pool. Some commonly used tests include the Hogan test and the Big Five. 

As a job seeker, reading about what these tests are looking for can help you better understand what’s to come.

Prioritizing candidate experience and employee engagement

More employers are positioning themselves as a brand. They know that top talent is hard to come by. As a business, it’s essential to compete for the attention of the best potential employees.

That’s why more businesses are prioritizing candidate experience during the hiring process. The use of ATS can aid in this shift, as it allows applicants to check for updates regularly. Beyond hiring, employers are striving to prioritize building a strong company culture and environment that encourages retention.

These shifts in HR trends are changing things for both HR Professionals and job seekers. Both businesses and job searchers would be wise to familiarize themselves with these trends.

Wendy Dessler is the Outreach Manager at The Blue Frog (www.thebluefrog.com) in Brooklyn, New York. She is a super-connector who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.