Why is it so hard to find the right person for the job, and why are jobseekers struggling to land the roles they want? A new report from recruitment experts Osborne suggests a major disconnect is growing between employers and candidates.
Osborne CEO Shona McManus points to a “misalignment” in expectations, which is causing hiring to slow down and top talent to slip away.
The Hybrid Work & Salary Stand-Off
Candidates today are holding all the cards when it comes to work-life balance. According to the report, jobseekers are demanding hybrid and remote work options, with many refusing to even consider roles without them. This is coupled with higher salary expectations, leading to a negotiation stalemate where employers’ budgets often fall short.
Is This a Long-Term Role?
For employers, it’s not just about finding talent; it’s about finding talent that will stick around. The report highlights a rise in contract roles, but at the same time, companies are increasingly wary of candidates with a history of frequent job-hopping. Longevity is becoming a top hiring criterion.
The Interview Slowdown
One of the most frustrating trends for everyone is the speed of the hiring process. Recruitment expert Shane Hanrahan notes, “A two-stage interview process with quick feedback after each interview makes all the difference.” But the report indicates that many employers are taking longer, with job descriptions sometimes changing halfway through. This can lead to losing the best candidates to competitors who move faster.
The Rise of AI and “Ghosting”
The report also touches on some modern challenges. Recruiters are seeing an increase in unprofessional behaviour from candidates. According to consultant Grainne O’Donnell, “ghosting has become increasingly more popular with jobseekers over the last 6+ months,” with people pulling out of interviews at the last minute.
On top of this, there’s a new challenge in the application process itself. While some roles receive a flood of applicants, others get none. Many of these applications are from unqualified candidates, and employers are becoming wary of those that appear to be written by AI. As Joanne Murray, a Recruitment & Business Director at Osborne, explains, “if it is easy to see that a CV has been written by AI it can make employers cautious and/or less confident in the application.”
Ultimately, employers are on the lookout for candidates with AI skills across a range of fields, from marketing to manufacturing. It seems the digital age is presenting a new set of rules for both sides of the hiring process.
