As CEO of Solutions Driven, I’ve spent more than two decades deeply embedded in the world of recruitment. I’ve seen first-hand how hiring’s evolved from traditional methods to the innovative, cutting-edge and data-driven strategies now preferred. Here at Solutions Driven, we’re proud to be “More than a hiring partner”. We’re about delivering outstanding results to our clients and candidates, and we do this by combining data analysis with a deep understanding of current industry trends.

I recently took some time to evaluate the large amounts of data we’ve collated and was able to identify various patterns and trends that are shaping the way we hire. You may have already read our latest whitepaper, “Key Hiring Trends We’re Seeing in 2024“, where we explore these insights in depth. But, in this article, I’m going to share my top 10 tips for hiring teams wanting to stay agile and interesting as we move into the second half of 2024. 

Solutions Driven = Data Driven

Data’s at the heart of Solutions Driven. We track everything! By bringing together industry stats with our own internal information, we’re able to stay informed and can make better, fact-based decisions. And by being data-led, we’ve been able to achieve ‘the right hire, the first time’ an impressive 97% of the time. 

When looking over our data, I concentrated on certain key metrics, including:

• Role Fillability = how likely a role was to be filled, e.g. market conditions and the availability of candidates.
• Confidential Roles Percentage = the proportion of roles needing a high level of discretion and/or confidentiality.
• Salary Band Acceptance = how aligned the salary ranges on offer were with candidate expectations and market standards.
• Candidate Engagement Metrics = how well we’re engaging with potential candidates throughout the recruitment process.
• Offer Acceptance Rate = percentage of job offers accepted by candidates, a crucial indicator of our market competitiveness and reputation.
• Hiring Success Rate = the long-term success of hires, and whether they remain a good fit for the company beyond the initial placement.
• Brand Engagement = an assessment of how our employer brand resonates with candidates and influences their decision to join the clients we work with.

My Top 10 Tips for Staying Agile & Interesting In 2024

So how can you stay agile and interesting in your hiring process? After all, it’s crucial to attracting top talent. Here, are my top 10 tips:

1.        Evaluate if Your Hiring Process is Fresh and Engaging
Is your hiring process now outdated? The only way to really know is regular assessments. If your process is stale, chances are candidates will think your company is too! But if you can show you’re innovative in your recruitment practices, and do things a little bit differently, you’ll not only attract top talent but also promote a positive culture. (And we all know how important culture is in 2024.)

2.        Think About Hiring Smoothness
How smooth is your process? If it’s not running like clockwork, you’re likely to lose candidates part way through. Research suggests that a massive 78% of jobseekers would drop out of a long or complex recruitment process. So, make sure you’re streamlining everything! A great place to start is by implementing tech and AI to automate repetitive tasks and provide more personalised experience to help candidates feel valued. 

  3.        Active Hiring Managers Engage Talent
How proactive are you, and/or your hiring managers, in creating job specs and shortlisting candidates? When you’re actively involved, you’re showing you’re interested and committed, which gives a more personalised candidate experience. And generally, leads to better overall outcomes. 

4.        Hiring Storytelling Makes a Difference
When you’re good at storytelling you’re able to not only communicate your company’s mission, purpose, and vision, but really bring them to life. If a candidate is able to visualise themselves as part of your organisation, they’re more likely to be motivated to join your team.

5.        The Three Cs of Candidate Engagement
These are really important: Curiosity, comfort, commitment. 
Curiosity: Make sure you spark candidates’ interest by showcasing why the role and your company are different.
Comfort: Put candidates at ease during the recruitment process. That way, you’ll encourage openness and honesty.
Commitment: Being sure candidates are committed to a role reduces the number of dropouts and rejections you’ll experience.

6.        Ask Yourself, “Would You Work for You?” 
This is a really interesting way to assess your candidate experience. Put yourself in their shoes and reflect on your responsiveness and how well you’ve communicated with candidates. If you wouldn’t want to work for yourself because of the way you’ve interacted, it’s time to up your game!

7.        Treat a Candidate Like a First Date
The small things really do count! Thoughtful gestures can make a significant impact – think unexpected phone calls or personalised messages – all of which show candidates that they’re valued. You’ll create a positive impression of your company.

8.        Be Responsive and Timely
Timely communication is essential for both candidates and hiring teams. Prompt responses and updates correlate strongly with hiring success, as they demonstrate respect and organisational efficiency.

9.        Measure, Learn, and Improve
Regularly evaluate your hiring process using data-driven insights. Learn from your metrics and implement continuous improvements to enhance efficiency and candidate satisfaction. This iterative approach ensures your process stays relevant and effective.

10.  Work with External Partners That Add Real Value
Collaborating with external partners who provide valuable insights and challenge your recruitment strategies will offer fresh perspectives and help you innovate. This means you’re more likely to remain at the cutting-edge when it comes to hiring.

Remember, the secret to staying competitive and attracting/retaining the best talent in 2024 is being agile and interesting!  

At Solutions Driven, we’re really proud of our data-driven approach. In fact, we’re so confident in our services that we offer 12-month guarantees on hires, not to mention, achieve a 97% success rate on the first try. So, if you’re ready to find out how we can help you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or the wider team at Solutions Driven.

And, if you’ve enjoyed these tips and want a deeper dive into the data and trends that helped me pull them together, don’t forget to download your copy of our 2024 Hiring Trends Whitepaper. It’s packed with information and advice that’ll help you stay ahead in our ever-increasingly competitive talent market.