Benefits of Strong Communication Through a Crisis
Communicating with your candidates is always important, but maintaining strong communication with them during a crisis can set you apart from your competitors.
Thanks to COVID-19, our economy came to a grinding halt in March and businesses were facing unique challenges. On one hand, numerous businesses were deemed “non-essential” and were forced to close their doors, putting them in danger of shutting down permanently. On the other hand, some employers in industries deemed essential are having problems attracting candidates amid the crisis.
Whatever your struggles are now, there are real benefits that come with staying in touch with candidates throughout this crisis.
Your company will stand out.
Many companies aren’t thinking about their candidates right now, which is understandable. However, when they come out the other side of this crisis, they will need the talent and will struggle to find it.
Even if you aren’t hiring, send out updates and advice to candidates. This shows that you are still open for business and that you are planning on ramping up hiring again in the future–even if you can’t today.
If you are in need of people and can’t seem to find them, regular communication can help you show candidates that your company is on solid ground, that you value your workforce and their safety, and that you are ready to hire.
Candidates have real questions.
One of the themes of the world we are maneuvering through is that uncertainty rules the day. People have a lot of big questions about the long-term impact of COVID-19, but they also have very specific questions about which companies are open, which are conducting remote interviews, and what precautions are companies taking to protect them.
These questions deserve thoughtful answers. Address them, and keep in touch with your candidate pool, even if you aren’t currently hiring. If you are hiring, answering these questions can help ease fears at a time when many people are choosing between trying to get back to work and potentially exposing themselves, or staying home and collecting unemployment.
Regular communication can help ease fears and encourage people to choose the workforce.
You will still need to hire people.
COVID-19 has us all focused on government-forced job losses, but every company will have to deal with people who resign, employees who must take a leave of absence to isolate, recover, or care for a sick family member, and you may still need to terminate positions.
By keeping in touch with candidates, you can quickly fill roles as they open in order to maintain peak productivity.
How can you stay in touch with candidates?
There are several ways to communicate, so research and find the channels that work best for you and for your candidates.
- Company blog posts
- Email newsletter
- Social media posts
- Live broadcasts on social media that include Q&A at the end
- Text messaging
Remember, people need connections and information and crave any sense of normalcy they can find. You may not have a lot of open jobs right now, but continually communicating with candidates helps you stand out as a leader in your community, and a business who genuinely cares about people.
In these uncertain times, The Reserves Network is here for you. We can help keep you in touch with your top candidates, fill job openings quickly, and assist in developing a plan to come out of this crisis ready to sieze the day. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you navigate these challenging times.
