7 tips for recruiters to communicate with employees and potential hires.
The pandemic is an unprecedented crisis that has impacted companies worldwide. The stress of working through a crisis is magnified by the profound impact to employees’ personal and professional lives. Recruiters can play a critical role in helping employees and potential hires cope with the changes at work, and even at home.
Be transparent
Hiring during a pandemic can be very complicated and confusing to both recruiter and candidate. Explain to job candidates how you are supporting employees through this global crisis. Be prepared with detailed information surrounding job duties and employee safety. Expect delays in the hiring process and communicate frequently with applicants as deadlines change.
Lean on your organization’s values
What you stand for every day in your mission as an organization is what you should double down on today. Review company mission statements to create your desired voice for community and media briefings.
Check your tone
These aren’t normal times. Your public tone can’t be the same as usual. Assess how you want to communicate your recruitment efforts in crisis and make changes, if needed, to your email, social and website messages. This may be a good time to publish content on your strategy to provide employees or your community with resources or information. The way you respond to this crisis will be remembered by those who follow your brand.
Stay in the know
Understand what is happening globally, locally and at your facilities so you are fully prepared to answer serious questions from candidates.
Ramp up communication
Information surrounding safety and regulations is changing every day, so be prepared to change with it. Communicate with your team multiple times a day and make planning a high priority. Start a web page or information thread to share timely information they can access at any time.
Focus on employee mental and health needs
Job candidates and employees are worried about health, financial and family concerns. While hiring during a pandemic may be a major focus, pay close attention to your current team’s needs as well. Highlight both personal and professional resources that are available to support them, such as telehealth or assistance for setting up a remote office. If you don’t have a portal for employees and new hires with information on benefits and resources, this would be a crucial time to start one.
Prepare a Plan B
Look ahead and decide what could be next steps if the situation worsens. Having a contingency plan in place (including resource connections) will make for an easier transition, if you need to act quickly.
While you can’t predict the final impact of the crisis on your organization or employees, clear, honest communication and planning can help develop trust and build confidence as we all navigate through new territory.