Like everything else in 2020, December recruitment is going to be very different this year. You might think of December as your month of chilling and getting away with hangovers in the office as your clients quieten down for Christmas – but this year? Forget about it.
Now’s the time you really need to put the work in if you’re going to hit your targets in 2021. Here’s why…
Why this December is so important for recruiters
If you’re not using December to get ahead, you’ll fall behind those of your competitors who are using this month to their advantage. They'll be making some last-minute placements in 2020 and planting seeds with their best clients for January, so you need to the same.
We all know recruitment normally tapers off in December, as most businesses wind down for the year and celebrate their achievements with Christmas parties. But the market has been all over the place this year due to the pandemic, so who knows what December will be like. You really can’t make predictions about anything right now!
4 things you need to do this December smash your targets
To set you yourself up for a strong 2021, you can’t do the same old things you did last December.
Here are the five things you need to do to ensure you’re ready to smash your 2021 targets…
1. Make a recruitment plan that’ll work in 2021
After a crazy year like 2020, you might think it’s pointless to try and predict what’s going to happen in 2021. But your competition will be researching and planning for next year - so you need to do the same.
Your recruitment plan for next year must be adaptable, as (just like 2020) we can’t predict what next year will be like. Decide how you’re going to tackle Q1 and leave room to change your plan so you can adapt with the market.
Speak to your clients about their business strategy for 2021 and find out what they need from you to achieve them. It’s likely their plans for next year will be pretty speculative too, so find out their back-up plans as well current plans to ensure you’re ahead of the game.
2. Keep doing Business Development
Understandably, a lot of businesses froze their recruitment plans during the first lockdown in March. But since then, job numbers have been growing month-on-month.
Some of your clients will be getting their post-Covid-19 hiring plans in place. Why would they stop for Christmas? Don’t assume this December will be quiet – reach out and ask what their recruitment plans are this month.
Even if you don’t make the placements this side of Christmas, you can be using this month to have the right conversations that set you up well for the new year. You might find that December becomes your most productive BD month of 2020!
3. Create candidate hotlists
In this candidate-heavy market, you’re going to have a lot of active candidates in your database – and you won’t have time to wade through them all each time you get a job on.
So catch up with your top talent and hotlist the candidates who are available now to ensure you can fill any jobs that come in, fast!
Take the opportunity to set yourself up for future success too. Build talent pools that nurture the candidate who aren’t looking for jobs yet, so when they do become active, they come to you first.
The talent pools in your CRM should automatically pull in candidates that match the criteria you’ve set, so you don’t need to waste time on admin. A CRM that can’t automate processes like this this just won’t cut it anymore!
4. Build your online presence
2020 has changed the recruiting game massively: 74% of clients are adopting a permanent remote working policy, so if clients can’t find you online – you will lose business.
If you don’t create a strong social presence this December, you won’t be visible in 2021. You know the saying, ‘New Year, New You’, so give your social platforms a makeover (it’ll be a lot easier than sticking to dry January!).
What does your personal brand say about you? Craft posts that project positivity and show you have the grit to succeed in the year ahead
To really succeed in 2021, you need a recruitment sales process that’s tailored to doing business entirely online. Download the eBook to find out everything you need to know.
