Hiring trends in 2023 may seem a little more difficult for employers since workers have a little more power to demand especially when remote work is an option. When you’re on the hunt for new talent, you may need to consider what it takes to not just get them on board but also retain them for the long term. Direct hiring is one mode of talent acquisition that could improve your hiring process and allow you to tap competitive individuals for vacancies.
Direct hire defined
What does direct hire mean? Direct hire is the process of giving a job offer to applicants without using a third-party staffing agency. Direct hir lets employees and employers go through the process of recruitment without intervention from another company that offers recruitment services. Applicants and employers have the opportunity to discuss employment directly with each other. Additionally, direct hires dont consider the employers as clients because they are the ones offering the vacancy.
What is the direct hire process?
The direct hire process is simple and involves the following steps:
- Find candidates from different networks - Your recruitment staff will post job vacancy announcements on different platforms and then ask potential candidates to apply.
- Review applications - Recruitment staff will evaluate resumes and application credentials and then shortlist candidates whom they think qualify for the role.
- Contact the candidates - Shortlisted candidates will be informed that they are eligible to proceed with the application process.
- Schedule applicants for an interview or tests - An interview is an important part of the direct hire process. It is an opportunity to get face-to-face with the candidate and assess personalities and dispositions based on their answers. Tests, on the other hand, allow employers to define whether the candidate’s skill set suits the requirements of the job.
- Make an offer - Once the candidate passed the interview and tests, it is now time to make an offer and get the applicant on board.
Pros and cons of direct hire
The direct hire process may be fast and easy but it may have some implications to your organization.
Advantages of direct hire
Direct hiring is usually done by businesses with an in-house human resource department that could conduct recruitment.
Quick recruitment
Direct recruitment is faster considering how candidates may view the position as more stable compared to when this is offered by a staffing agency. Direct hiring may not shorten the process but will allow quicker responses from current employees or managers who are part of the recruitment process.
Applicants feel they are part of the team
What does direct hire mean to applicants? Well, if the interviewer is a part of the company and not from a staffing agency, applicants create an impression that they are closer to the core of the business and are more likely to see growth. On the part of employers, direct hire means closer contact with the candidates allowing an opportunity to know them better and assign more suitable tasks.
More attractive to a larger pool of candidates
Since applicants feel closer to becoming a part of the team, more and more candidates will be interested in applying and committing. Companies may not need to do extensive recruitment schemes just to find the most competitive hire.
Disadvantages of direct hire
Although direct hire seems to be a quicker solution to vacancies, there are disadvantages that this could affect company operations.
More focus on staffing than growth
Businesses are designed to grow and when key individuals in the team are involved in the hiring process, more time and resources are wasted. Instead of using these to implement growth strategies, businesses are diverted to finding the right candidates.
The candidates land a full time position
Although direct hiring can offer temporary jobs, it usually offers full-time positions. The downside of this recruitment process is that there is no trial period to see whether the candidate is a good fit.
Hiring the wrong candidate
Your company’s recruitment staff may not be experienced enough to find someone that belongs to the vacancy’s niche. Staffing agencies have recruitment specialists who have a wider reach for different types of candidates.
When should you use staffing agencies?
Staffing agencies are third-party recruiters who get paid for finding the right candidate for your need.
You need to fill a vacant position immediately
Staffing agencies have a larger pool of talents with special skills. If you need to fill a position at once, then hiring the services of a headhunter will make the job as quick as possible.
You need experts to find the right candidate
Again, staffing agencies have specialists that are experienced and more knowledgeable in evaluating the right fit for the position. If you think a certain vacancy requires a definite skill set, then staffing agencies can resolve the problem.
You dont have the time and people to recruit candidates
Small businesses dont normally have enough employees to do the recruitment process. You dont need to pull out employees from their current assignments and do the recruitment instead.
Should you partner with a headhunter?
Staffing or recruitment firms exist to allow your company to focus on more difficult goals. And since the best talents are not always the right fit for the job, recruitment agencies will prevent you from hiring unfit candidates.
Whether to partner with a headhunter or not depends on your finances, resources, and needs. A direct hire is an option for any business but if you have a shortage of people and time, then having a third-party recruiter can save you from all the hassles of hiring.
Conclusion
Finding the right person for a role takes time. Direct hire has its own advantages and disadvantage which every business owner should evaluate. If direct hire may not seem to be the solution for understaffing, then you may want to seek recruitment services from recruitment platforms like Zebra. Investing in staffing agencies and recruitment firms is an option for those who want to get their business moving forward instead of getting stuck with finding candidates for a vacant position.
