Shaking Up Recruitment: The 2025 Trends You Need to Know

As we dive into recent recruitment trends, it's clear that moving forward, we need to listen up and shake up the way we approach hiring. Here are some key insights:

Walk the Talk

Businesses, it's time to represent yourselves authentically because 85%* of job seekers check out your reviews before they even consider applying. Remember, they are ultimately picking you. Ensure your online presence accurately reflects your values and culture.

Timing is Everything

The beginning of the year is a prime time for job seekers looking to make a change. Take advantage of this by actively recruiting and promoting roles early on. Towards the end of the year, people are generally less inclined to change roles, so adjust your strategies accordingly.

Job Seekers' Sentiment

Today, people want to fit work into their lives, feel valued, productive, make a difference and have the tools to succeed. They seek a sense of accomplishment, excellent communication, collaboration, and happiness in their roles. How can you create an environment that fosters these values?

New Zealand: Ahead of the Curve

Typically, NZ is 6-12 months behind in most trends, but when it comes to recruitment, we can pat ourselves on the back. We're ahead of the game with advanced talent recruitment strategies and staying on the pulse.

The 6-Month Psychological Process

This underscores the importance of regular check-ins. If someone is unhappy in their role for 6 months or more and lacks a platform for regular feedback and support, it becomes very challenging to persuade them to stay. By then, they’ve likely made up their minds and are ready to move on. It's far easier—and financially more beneficial for the business—to have those conversations early on.

Disability and Inclusion

Many US companies are scaling back their DEI policies. Will Australian & NZ companies follow suit? It may be too early to say, the data shows that Australasian companies are generally embracing DEI, with 37% of job postings mentioning diversity and inclusion, a figure that has doubled over the past 5 years.

Here are some interesting insights from the Australian Disability network on the benefits of being an inclusive employee:

Widen Talent Pool – Access to a vast, skilled workforce currently underrepresented in employment.

Increase Employee Retention – Inclusive workplaces have higher job satisfaction and lower turnover.

Better Representation of Customers – Hiring people with disabilities improves the customer experience and service.

Lower Absenteeism – Employees with disabilities often take fewer sick days than their peers.

Improve Brand Reputation – Inclusive companies outperform competitors and gain consumer trust.

Enhance Productivity – Diverse teams drive innovation and higher performance.

Share Your Story

Companies that share their stories across various platforms give job seekers valuable insights into what it’s like to be part of the team. Highlighting your culture and values can be a significant advantage. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea to get in front of a camera, you'd be surprised by the difference it can make in whether someone applies for a role. We live in an age where younger generations have an investigative nature and gather their intel within seconds.

Retention Strategies

• Treat Internal Candidates like External: Create pathways for growth within your company.

• Referral Programs: Encourage referrals, your team know what it’s like to work in your organisation and wouldn’t refer a person they wouldn’t want to work alongside.

Hyper-Personalised Development Plans:

Provide a platform for your team to share their growth aspirations. Offer projects that allow employees to engage deeply, opportunities to connect with the community, receive mentoring, and focus on safety and wellness. Adopt a holistic approach—it doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming. Consider creating a questionnaire to help pinpoint their career goals and establish realistic timelines.

By embracing these trends and strategies, we can create a more effective and satisfying recruitment process and workplace for both employers and job seekers. Remember, it's all about common sense and creating a positive experience for everyone involved.

Need some support with any of the above?  At EASI NZ we are here to help you and hold your hand though any or all parts of the recruitment process, please get in touch to learn more.

* ELMO Employee Sentiment Index Australia (Oct – Dec ‘24)