Now is the time for recruiters to support their clients, their candidates, and importantly, each other.

My last three weeks has been taken up with emergency client meetings, planning a response to COVID-19.

Working remotely is front and centre of most plans. However, there is a sense of “what can we really do from home if things get very quiet”.

Well, let’s crowdsource some ideas.

Firstly, continue to work jobs and candidates that are ‘in play’ just as you normally would, but using phone and digital comms. Obvious, right?

But what if it deteriorates fast? Clients pull job orders. Temps are sent home? It is happening already and most definitely more to come…

This post is a call to stay positive, keep active, be productive – and to focus on others, with empathy and support.

How about we make it all about outgoing activity? Proactive. I will start. But then let’s have your ideas, please.

• Call clients to see if you can assist with ideas about how to manage the crisis. Not as a health expert. But how other clients are managing the workforce
• Call candidates, whose options have dried up overnight, to reassure them they will not be forgotten when things recover.
• Offer candidates a free, no-obligation, resume review, career planning or salary benchmarking chat. You are at home; they are at home. Why not?
• Check-in with a colleague, working from home. Encourage. Boost morale. Share ideas. Have a laugh where you can find one.
• Call every person on your ATS, that you have met or spoken with, and reconnect. Maybe start with the simple question, “Are you OK?”
• Offer your candidates and clients help to use any downtime to improve and work on their online brand. Writing content, tidying up profiles.
• Whenever you talk or email, whoever you talk to – spread calm. Be the voice of hope. “This too shall pass”.
• Invite someone to a ‘virtual lunch‘. You and your sandwich, them with theirs. Skype or similar. Add wine if appropriate ?
• Not “external’, but maybe time to invest in client and candidate research, ATS data cleansing, online learning

What ideas are you using? Please share. Now is the time for that.

Keep safe all.

Remember, this too will pass.