Recruiters face many talent acquisition challenges when hiring top talent, and companies compete to hire qualified candidates with the best skill sets. Talent acquisition (TA) teams work with limited resources to meet hiring needs. This article will address the top 8 talent acquisition challenges and offer solutions to overcome them.

1. Attracting Qualified Candidates Who are the Best Fit for Your Company Needs

It is essential to focus recruiting efforts on building a solid talent pipeline. Doing so will provide a talent pool of qualified candidates to interview and select. This will help you hire the right people for the job.

Note: Part of this solution includes building a strong employer brand that helps attract candidates.

2. Connecting with Qualified Candidates

The top talent with the most in-demand skills usually engages with several different recruiters and offers. Learning about a candidate is the best way to stand out among a sea of recruiters. Focus a portion of interviews on enhancing candidate experience by addressing their needs and what motivates them. Do this by communicating your company’s benefits and how they align with what candidates seek in a career.

3. Providing a Quality Candidate Experience

For TA teams that are stretched thin, it can be challenging to ensure you provide a quality candidate experience for each potential employee. However, this experience can make or break a candidate’s decision regarding your company. The recruiting and hiring process is their glimpse of the employee experience they might have with your company.

Some ways to improve the experience are:

  • Set appropriate expectations for the recruiting process.
  • Communicate clearly and regularly.
  • Provide any necessary information for the recruiting process up-front (without them having to ask for it).

4. Strengthening Employer Brand

Broaden your talent pool of qualified candidates by strengthening your employer brand. Provide a good candidate experience throughout the recruiting and hiring processes, communicate your company brand and culture on social media, and respond to all online reviews. Ensure you are working hard to be a good employer, as this will increase employee satisfaction and referrals.

5. Filling Positions Quickly and Efficiently

A lag in time to hire may cause a shortage of qualified candidates. Review your recruitment process to see where you can tighten things up and shorten the hiring time. Communicate expectations for the hiring journey with candidates so they know the time it takes to follow hiring procedures. Your TA team may benefit from utilizing an applicant tracking system.

6. Utilizing Data to Drive Hiring Decisions and Overcome Talent Shortages

Many companies are dealing with a skilled labor shortage. Using data to drive recruiting efforts and hiring decisions can help ensure your company obtains quality talent while focusing on merit and eliminating bias. Data can help you determine the best places to look for candidates, whether online job boards, recruiting events, etc. It can also help inform your TA team of the necessary skills candidates must have and what skills can be taught after hiring.

7. Maintaining Clear Communication Between Hiring Managers and Recruiters

Hiring managers can be very selective when making decisions about potential employees. Recruiters should meet with hiring managers to ensure they push suitable candidates through for hiring decisions. This will allow them to review the job listing to ensure they are clear on the job requirements and skills required of employees.

Doing this can also help keep recruiters who lack technical expertise in the know. They will be better prepared to answer candidate questions during an interview as they have already clarified job requirements and terminology.

8. Lacking Time to Review, Interview, and Hire

Many recruiters lack time to attract, engage, and nurture the right candidates. Utilizing an applicant tracking system can help aid these efforts by relieving TA teams of time-consuming administrative tasks. This allows them to focus on developing relationships with top candidates.

A Complete Solution to Overcoming Talent Acquisition Challenges: The Discovered Applicant Tracking System

The Discovered Applicant Tracking System provides the best all-in-one solution for supporting your recruiting strategy. Our system helps you find, attract, assess, and hire the right candidates to achieve your company goals. We even provide a performance management process that helps nurture your employees, improving their satisfaction and longevity with your company.

Book a demo today to see how our applicant tracking system can help you!