Recruiting in 2021 is bound to look a bit different than previous years, regardless of the industry you’re working in. The unprecedented events of 2020 forced recruiters to re-think many of the engagement practices they had spent years working on. Social conversations and movements made diversity and inclusion the hottest topic in recruiting. Simply put, applicants are looking for new benefits (outside of compensation) from their employers.
In the CDL driver recruiting world, there have been some great changes put in place over the last few years. Many carriers are moving toward technology-driven recruiting practices that put drivers at the forefront, making recruiting more streamlined and focused on the driver’s needs. Additionally, advancements in reporting and internal process improvements have made it easier for recruiters to do their jobs on the backend.
Like most recruiting teams, you’re more than likely looking to up the ante and be more successful in 2021. By looking at how other industries are handling this new era of recruiting, your team can get new ideas, improve your current processes, and set yourselves up for success in 2021 and beyond.
Here are some hot recruiting tips your CDL driver recruiting team can borrow from other industries to make this year a success:
- Tip #1: Don’t wait until it’s too late to prioritize diversity and inclusion
The social justice movements of 2020 provided a huge spotlight on the subject of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Many industries are taking this subject very seriously, with pledges and goals to increase diverse hires across their workforce. While the trucking industry has historically performed very well in hiring diverse drivers (over 40% of truck drivers were minorities in 2018), recruiters should look to continue this trend in the coming years.
- Tip #2: Talk about professional development opportunities in your recruiting process
With the widespread layoffs and unemployment wrought by 2020, many of those in the workforce are excited to get back to normal, except now these people have a few additional needs in their positions. Modern employees aren’t just looking for a dead-end job – they want opportunities, growth, and development. Driver recruiters must be sure to highlight these sorts of development opportunities with drivers even in the early stages of recruiting to make a good impression on drivers.
- Tip #3: Company culture – even in the new remote-first work environment – is key
As the bulk of the national workforce experienced some sort of ‘working from home’ in 2020, many organizations and industries are bracing for the new remote-first work environment in 2021 by building a new type of company culture and engagement. While CDL drivers spend most of their time on the road and remote work is no different, recruiters can take some pointers from other industries in building a remote-first company culture. Ongoing virtual check-ins, company meetings, and happy hours are great ways to get to know each other remotely.
- Tip #4: Provide benefits outside of competitive compensation
Compensation and other traditional benefits like insurance and PTO have always been the core drivers for employment, but the events of 2020 have resulted in employees looking for new resources from their employers. Things like Employee Assistant Programs (EAP), telehealth, mental health support, and other personal benefits are incredibly important right now, and HR teams should think about adding them to the roster of other benefits when talking with prospective drivers.
Stay up to date on CDL trucking trends! Be sure to check out the DriverReach blog for other relevant articles and head over to our webinars page for an up-to-date list of upcoming events and on-demand recordings.
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