Over the last few years, the role of the HR professional has changed dramatically with everything from the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to a new generation entering the workforce. In 2019, the HR industry was one of the most rapidly changing industries—and 2020 will be no different.
Since founding WorkSmart Systems in 1998, I have seen first-hand the rapid development of this industry, with one of the prominent areas of growth being talent acquisition. Within the last two years, we have seen an increase in HR departments implementing recruitment marketing into their talent acquisition strategy. With the advancement of technology, the majority of today’s candidates are searching online to find vacant positions. In particular, as we head into 2020, we will see a rise in organizations building a more comprehensive social strategy and brand presence to attract job candidates.
Talent acquisition is just one of the many HR pillars, though—and I’m not the only one with ideas about where our industry is headed. As HR professionals prepare their strategies for 2020, we’re taking a look at the predictions of several leaders in the HR space. Ranging from the latest use of AI to internal communication, here are the top trends they expect to lead the way heading in the new year:
Say Hello to a Standardized Skill Framework
“Historically, every employer has had a different way of communicating skills, performance, and accomplishments—if they communicated it at all. Now, with a critical mass of employers moving to recognize and certify the skills of their employees, the importance of a standardized approach to reporting outcomes has become clear. Digital credentials are bringing consistency, data, and trust to skill recognition and human capital decision-making, and we’ll see more companies placing value on these credentials as the universal competency framework in 2020.”
—Jonathan Finklestein, CEO, Credly, a leader in digital credentials
Texting for Internal Communication
“Open communication with employees continues to have appeal. In 2020, companies will begin texting their employees for everything from hiring updates to office closures. Texting is a great method of outreach for customer service, and if you think of employees as customers, texting becomes another way to easily, effectively communicate with them.”
—Matt Reid, CMO, EZ Texting, a leader in SMS marketing software for business
AI Will Improve Employee Productivity
“In the recruitment process, artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent automation (IA) will dramatically improve productivity, assisting HR teams by eliminating mundane workflow tasks, ultimately accelerating the hiring process. Not only will continued technology development and implementation improve the recruitment cycle by automating regulatory and compliance-related tasks, but AI also ensures HR teams are maximizing candidate touchpoints in the most effective manner possible. As a result, technology, such as applicant tracking systems, creates better conversations with prospective employees.”
—Jeremy Reymer, founder and CEO, DriverReach, an applicant tracking system built specifically for the CDL industry
Applicant Tracking Software Will Help Speed Up the Hiring Process
“Hiring teams will be able to set a particular hiring process in motion and only need to have interactions with candidates themselves rather than software. Automated tasks can be programmed through recruiting platforms, applicant tracking software, and more. This will help recruiters sift through resumes faster, identifying qualified candidates easier, and reduce any hiring bias that can interfere in the hiring process.”
—Nina Cofer, product marketing manager, BreezyHR, which provides small to medium businesses with feature-rich, intuitive, and user-friendly recruitment software
A new year proves a new opportunity for HR teams to push away from the competition by leading the industry with the most innovative tactics, tools, and technologies. Preparing for these trends will set successful companies apart in 2020.
Matt Thomas is president of WorkSmart Systems, an Indianapolis-based Professional Employer Organization (PEO) founded in 1998. WorkSmart serves more than 200 client companies with employees in 37 states. The company’s goal is to provide small to medium-size employers with an integrated Human Resources solution that allows them to take better care of their employees, stabilize employee-related costs, and focus on their core business.