The pandemic has presented all sorts of challenges and uniquities that none of us could have foreseen at the beginning of the year. Staffing firms who serve essential industries like home care, healthcare, grocery, retail and construction (to name a few) are seeing massive surges in demand for talent. Other industries may have fewer reqs, but a surge in demand for jobs that is overwhelming their already-stressed recruiters. 

Candidate engagement is king right now in the staffing industry. And the chief among candidate engagement tools leading the conversation is texting. 

I. Introduction 

Busy is the new normal. We’re constantly checking emails, returning calls and scheduling meetings. The “working vacation” is how people “relax” and still get things done. With so much competing for our attention, reaching candidates, clients, prospects and contractors simply isn’t as simple as it was in the past. 

At the end of the day, revenue is the most important number for any staffing firm. But you can’t drive revenue if your other core metrics aren’t strong — especially candidate and consultant engagement.

We have been talking about texting quite a bit here on the Sense blog lately, and with good reason -- texting is the preferred method of communication for many of us, and its potential within the staffing industry is tremendous. Mobile engagement rates are really incredible, and offer a unique opportunity for staffing firms to take advantage.

Talent spends much of the day on their phones. We all do. Research shows that we check our phones upwards of 80 times a day. With candidate (and even client) ghosting an increasingly problematic issue and recruiter resources maxed out, texting is an excellent way to nurture relationships, save time and ultimately, drive ROI for your staffing firm.

With mobile engagement rates through the roof, text messaging is a must have channel for recruiters. However, many firms still don’t have a text messaging strategy and individual recruiters are left to devise their own. As a result, staffing leaders are unable to track these touchpoints or measure their impact.

Automation has made many jobs much easier over the past few decades. When we think of the word “automation,” and all sorts of things may come to mind…

Technology has been a critical component of staffing operations for years. From the olden days of fax machines and copiers to the advent of job boards and the ATS, as technology has evolved, the staffing industry has become more streamlined and efficient.

We talk about this a lot around here, but today’s candidates are smarter and more savvy than ever when it comes to recruiters and staffing firms. They hold you to the highest standards, and have specific expectations for your communications.