Companies everywhere are starting to notice that employee engagement is crucial for growth. Workers who show up for office hours with a smile, those who are committed to their work and happy to do it improve organic growth and teamwork. This has convinced businesses everywhere to examine employee sentiments and manage their HR plans more effectively. Naturally, employees are crucial in determining the future of a company, and it comes as no surprise that hiring those who are best suited for the job is the key. But this proves to be no easy task for companies and HR departments.
As we enter a new decade, we are starting to understand that traditional skills might not be the best qualities for a new employee in the digital age. HR departments face new tasks every day and it’s them and the people they choose that will ultimately face the challenges of 2020. This also means good employee retention, as well as effectively managing the talent crisis when needed. In order to achieve this, looking for job skills suited for 2020 in a potential employee is crucial. But so is working out new employee benefits and using new technologies to assess employee engagement.
New Skills for the Digital Age
It should come as no surprise for employers everywhere that their workers spend most of their time on the job. An employee usually spends eight hours a day, five days a week working. Their personalities, their needs and their thoughts don’t shut off while they work, and it might even prove to be risky to expect the contrary. This is why talent acquisition teams and recruitment solution providers may need to look for more than traditional skills when it comes to hiring somebody. While educational background, experience, and seriousness are to be considered, HR specialists should also look for candidates who are tech-savvy, have high levels of emotional intelligence (EQ) and exhibit critical thinking, flexibility, and creativity.
Data literacy is also extremely important, as data is now the world’s most valuable resource and also boosts growth for most companies worldwide. Talent acquisition teams that don’t take data literacy into account when hiring might actually deprive their companies of a powerful tool they need when facing their competitors. By contrast, businesses that opt for candidates who have the ability to read, write and communicate data in context will ultimately use their potential for future growth and development. If being tech-savvy might sometimes be just a plus, being comfortable with data has quickly become a must.
What About Employee Benefits?
Every new age comes with certain changes and employee benefits are not an exception to the rule. If companies want emotional investment from their employees, they must also consider what they offer in exchange. A paycheck and traditional benefits might not be enough to make employees happy and 100% committed to their jobs. Only 2% of employers provide their employees with a breast-milk-shipping benefit, and that might just turn the scale when it comes to employee retention in new moms.
New technologies might come in handy for recruitment solution providers, especially when it comes to employee retention. Just like companies need employees with new skills, so do HR departments worldwide. As expectations grow among employees, it’s obvious that businesses and HR departments may need to up their game in creating the perfect work environment. New technologies, like AI-based platforms, might be the perfect way to achieve the desired results.
Employees now need a lot more than a good job – they need a perfect environment that can help them grow and develop, on a personal and professional level. This, in turn, is guaranteed to bring them closer to their desired careers. AI-based screening platforms are just one way of making a good first impression on candidates and boost their future confidence in their new job. Companies may also choose to provide employees with AI-based training platforms, an even greater selling point in the recruitment process.
When it comes to the future, better employees with new skills fit for the digital world are not enough. Companies should also consider developing better recruitment and retention tools. That means that HR specialists everywhere may need to come up with new strategies if they hope to protect the future of their company. Embracing AI and thinking of new benefits for their employees while searching for new skills in candidates are just some of the first steps in the right direction.
