Covid-19/Coronavirus ... the disaster that is ...
As we stand today there is varying opinion across humanity in relation to the severity and seriousness of Coronavirus and what the blanket response should be in order to conquer the outbreak across the globe.
No matter what your opinion is about the virus, it is completely undeniable that it is affecting the majority if not all of the world in one way or another.
The situation that we are all facing is rapidly changing even at an hourly rate. Currently that are in excess of 200,000 confirmed cases and more than 8,000 deaths. Countries around the world are on complete shutdown, something we haven’t seen since WWII.
Covid-19 is unsurprisingly already having a massive impact on business around the world and the recruitment industry is no different.
We will inevitably be seriously hit. Organisations are trying to act as swiftly as possible to try and adapt and find ways to survive through this unprecedented event, however it is highly likely that the follow-on effects from Covid-19 will forever change the nature of recruitment and the general workplace landscape.
Recruitment agencies and executive search firms that focus on the hospitality and travel sector will potentially in the short term be the hardest hit however all sectors are going to see a steep decline in hiring.
Recruitment freezes have already been announced by global hotel chains and airlines alike due to the massive reductions in bookings and travellers since the outbreak. Alot of these businesses are having to force their staff on unpaid leave in order to try and mitigate a financial down-turn caused by the virus.
The recruitment industry as a whole is one that necessitates face-to-face interaction and human contact. We have already seen since January a massive dip in job applications and active job seekers compared to this time last year.
What this reflects is that candidates are gradually becoming reluctant to enter into the job searching process due to a combination of a personal desire to stay in their current job with a sense of security during this uncertain time as well as concerns about the face-to-face nature of the recruitment process.
While the first point is a hurdle that is almost impossible to tackle the second point is one that Executive Search consultants and recruitment as an industry can do something about.
As the world is increasingly becoming affected by Covid-19, recruiters are turning to online tools in order for clients to continue conducting their interview processes whilst also being able to avoid face-to-face meetings.
Video conferencing software such as Skype, Facetime, Zoom and Microsoft Teams make this possible and so are being used daily to both communicate with clients and to interview and ‘meet’ with candidates.
As a recruiter, it is worth ensuring that you have access to the tools needed to effectively and efficiently carry out this type of remote online recruitment during this time.
Will there be any long-term changes to the global work landscape? Most likely.
Across most of Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States to name a few, public transport, entertainment, sporting events and stadiums along with schools and workplaces are empty and ghostly silent as businesses and places anywhere that amass a crowd have shut down for the foreseeable future.
It is not surprising that organisations no matter what industry or sector are falling into crisis mode and are doing what they can to contain the Coronavirus and lessen the impact on their workforce. Whichever way this aggressive virus progresses over the next few months and whatever the final outcome is, there will be a lasting effect on workplace practices moving forward into the future.
Employers everywhere have been forced to think outside of the box and make decisions out of the norm in order to deal with this rapidly evolving crisis.
Already businesses around the world are cutting all business travel, are encouraging remote working for their staff and in some cases are having to make redundancies.
In this modern age a lot of businesses already allow for remote working in one way or another.
Online communication and file sharing tools will aid businesses in their efforts to operate as close to normal as possible especially if a prolonged period of home working is necessitated.
Many companies have taken the step to limit or ban all travel and so these tools will provide ways for them to communicate with their clients without actually having to travel to them and sit in person.
Given the ever-increasing desire felt by many for flexible working opportunities and the ecological impact of travel by both air and road, the adjustments that companies have made in response to Coronavirus could very well change the way that we work in the future.
How are we all going to move on and progress during what is more than likely a once-in-a-lifetime scenario?
Covid-19 has become a global issue that has spared no one, and as such the recruitment industry as a whole will be and has already been significantly affected.
There will be a noticeable decrease in job applications and people willing to explore new opportunities coupled with businesses slowing their hiring whilst they try and navigate their way through this storm.
Recruitment agencies that manage to adapt and survive the horror movie that is Coronavirus are the ones that will see the high’s on the other side when we all recover!
Bayden Tierney, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Connexions Executive Search.
