Mahrukh Farooq

The Changing Trends for Recruitment in Facility Management In the past few years, we have seen monumental changes in the way companies recruit and hire talent. Thanks to the rapid growth in technology, it is expected that 2018 will bring a new wave of developments for organizations in all industries, more so for those operating in the facility management sector where dependency on quality talent is high. Experts in recruitment forecast the following trends for 2018: Emphasis on candidate experience: A survey conducted by Allegis, a global staffing and recruitment services company, stated that nearly 66% of candidates are more comfortable with a chat bot taking care of an interview. Using artificial intelligence (AI), facility management companies could modify its recruitment methods and help speed up the application process for the candidate. In addition, various technologies including augmented reality could be utilized to make the overall candidate experience more interactive and appealing. Investment in automation: A number of companies are beginning to realize the growing potential of AI and automation, specifically in their recruitment practices. According to a report by Bullhorn titled North American Staffing and Recruiting Trends Report for 2018 in which over 1,400 HR professionals were interviewed, nearly 23% of recruiters ranked automation as their top priority. For organizations in facility management, this means developing and using automated algorithms that not only screens candidates but also sources them through a variety of social media platforms. The ‘Find and Engage’ approach: The previous and more conventional approach of advertising a particular job and encouraging candidates to apply is now a thing of the past. According to a study conducted by HAYS Specialist Recruitment, in 2018, more companies will switch to the ‘Find and Engage’ approach which involves using digital technology and data science analytics to search for the best candidates and then ‘engage’ them on the basis of information gathered related to their personal goals and aspirations. With so many people’s profiles now existing online, facility management businesses can use their digital footprint to get more information on their abilities and interests. Diversity – an ongoing priority: Skill shortages continue to persist around the world thereby causing numerous organizations to widen their efforts and reach out to individuals belonging to a variety of backgrounds. HAYS predicts the emphasis on diversity will continue to rise in 2018. Many facility management companies also need to place diversity on the top of their HR agenda to help integrate diverse workers and increase productivity. Diversified Maintenance has also invested in a variety of technologies and methods that ensure they attain the best talent for their business. At present, the company’s partnership with Efficient Hire has enabled it to completely automate the interview process which has helped optimize the way their HR department operates. An equal opportunity employer, Diversified places great importance on the need for diversity in the workplace and strives to create more inclusion for people coming from different circumstances. These practices will inevitably help Diversified sustain its competitive edge in the coming year.