Allegis Group Study Identifies Areas for Vast Improvement in Talent Acquisition

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HANOVER, Md., Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allegis Group, the global leader in talent solutions, today released its latest state of recruiting report, "Staying in Front: An Inside Look at the Changing Dynamics of Talent Acquisition." Based on a survey of nearly 7,000 employers, talent acquisition professionals and job candidates from around the world, the study gauges the satisfaction of companies across key talent acquisition practice areas, as well as stakeholder views on major trends.

According to the survey, less than 10 percent (7.7) of employers strongly agree their recruitment process enables them to fill open positions quickly, attract top-quality talent and optimize costs. With the vast majority of employers (92.3 percent) expressing less-than-optimal satisfaction with their recruitment process, many appear to be fueling their own talent shortages – a scenario worsened by a communication disconnect with talent acquisition professionals, as well as other shortfalls impacting employee hiring and retention.

"Based on our experience addressing talent needs for companies around the world, we know there is no such thing as 'just good enough' recruiting," said Andy Hilger, president of Allegis Group. "The market has grown increasingly competitive across many skill sets, particularly in the professional and technical arenas. Best-in-class recruitment must be a priority. We hope sharing insights on what sets great talent acquisition organizations apart – and identifying what is and isn't working – will help companies close some key gaps and, ultimately win in the marketplace."

Report Highlights

The report addresses several recruitment challenges, beginning with high demands on employers to be proficient at job definitions, sourcing, screening and onboarding. Employers also face developing trends, including advances in artificial intelligence (AI), evolving views on diversity and inclusion (D&I), and the emergence of the Millennial generation as the largest demographic in the workforce  – all of which exert pressure in several ways.

• Mismatched expectations for "turnkey hires" driving qualified candidates away. Only 28 percent of hiring managers at companies expect a perfect match – candidates that arrive fully equipped with necessary skills and experience. Yet, 50 percent of the talent acquisition professionals they work with, and 53 percent of candidates, think full qualifications must be met. This communication disconnect is keeping hiring managers away from many candidates they would otherwise consider for employment.
  
  
• Sourcing channels fall short of expectations. The majority of talent organizations were, on average, 67 percent less likely than "most satisfied" employers to rate a sourcing channel as "very effective." These channels, in descending order of preference (rating of "very effective") by those "most satisfied" employers, include: referral programs (71 percent), recruitment/staffing firms (59 percent), social media (59 percent), job boards and affiliates (53 percent), employer website (53 percent), search engine marketing and digital ads (47 percent), mobile apps (46 percent), career networking events (44 percent), employer rating sites (40 percent), email marketing (39 percent), freelance/"gig" matching platforms (20 percent), print ads and broadcast ads (17 percent).
  
  
• Faulty screening process leaving companies behind. "Most satisfied" employers are 78 percent more likely than others to clearly communicate their top three skills requirements and have recruiters understand them. Most companies lag behind in other fundamental screening practices, including establishing culture fit characteristics, bringing non-recruiting stakeholders into the screening process and contacting references.
  
  
• Digital assessment tools established, evolving. Candidates, hiring managers and talent acquisition pros all agree that tests for culture fit, cognitive abilities and personality are effective. More recent developments, such as mobile matching systems and game-based assessments (both rated effective by 60 percent of hiring managers), are slightly lower on the list but expected to rise as stakeholders gain more exposure.
  
  
• Poor onboarding sends new hires to the exits. Of surveyed candidates, 54 percent were "somewhat" or "very likely" to leave an organization based on a poor onboarding experience. When it comes to readiness for a new hire's first day – encompassing introductions to teammates and key stakeholders, manager meetings, and facility tours – more than 70 percent of hiring managers say they "always" cover these activities, yet only 23 to 50 percent of candidates agree.
  
  
• Poor hiring experience causes adverse ripple effect. When it comes to the hiring process, 56 percent of candidates are "somewhat" or "very likely" to discourage others from applying if they had a poor hiring experience. On the other hand, 81 percent say they'd encourage others if the process were a positive one.

Report Offers Update on Trends
Survey data in "Staying in Front: An Inside Look at the Changing Dynamics of Talent Acquisition" also offers industry insight into the status of emerging trends.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) creates difficult innovation decisions. Progress is being made in setting the right foundations for AI use, including harnessing the power of data and analytics (25 percent of employers cite significant progress) and investing in innovation and R&D (23 percent cite significant progress). Fewer respondents (roughly 13 percent of employers) are leveraging AI for talent acquisition and management, with 14 percent identifying roles and activities to automate using AI technology.
  
  
• Lack of a D&I strategy: Attracting diverse workers is essential to filling many critical roles, and keeping them onboard, engaged and advancing their careers is key to gaining the most value. Forty-four percent of employers, therefore, report D&I as a top priority for the business. However, just 27 percent say they have a well-researched and understood strategy in place.
  
  
• Employers lag in recruiting Millennials. In 2018, Millennials are predicted to be the largest voting-eligible group in the U.S., and by 2025, it's anticipated they'll make up three-quarters of the global workforce. Despite this, only 31 percent of employers report significant progress in their approach to recruiting Millennials. "Most satisfied" employers are more than twice as likely to identify Millennial recruitment as a top priority, with 28 percent more likely to have defined success for recruitment strategies.

Download the full report for free at www.allegisgroup.com/talentacquisition.

About Allegis Group
Allegis Group is the global leader in talent solutions focused on working harder and caring more than any other provider. We'll go further to understand the needs of our people – our clients, our candidates and our employees – and to consistently deliver on our promise of an unsurpassed quality experience. That's the Allegis Group difference, and it's consistent across every Allegis Group company. With more than $11 billion in annual revenues and over 500 locations across the globe, our network provides businesses with a comprehensive suite of talent solutions — without sacrificing the niche expertise required to ensure a successful partnership. Our specialized group of companies includes: Aerotek; TEKsystems; Aston Carter; Allegis Global Solutions; Major, Lindsey & Africa; Allegis Partners; MarketSource; EASi; The Stamford Group; and GettingHired. Visit www.AllegisGroup.com to learn more.

Media Contact:
Marty Querzoli
LEWIS
(781) 418-2433
[email protected]

SOURCE Allegis Group

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