recruitment strategies for the logistics workforce.

With the constant expansion of the global logistics market, supply chain companies need to focus on maintaining a competitive workforce. However, the skills shortage in the job market, coupled with fierce competition for talent, has made securing ideal employees increasingly difficult. Therefore, employers must go beyond traditional hiring techniques and proactively improve recruitment practices, ensuring a future-prepared workforce.

Logistics employers can enhance their recruitment process through several vital steps. This article will outline essential strategies your company can adopt to build a more effective recruitment framework.

Essential strategies for an effective recruitment process:

• skills identification

• logistics-specific channels

• simplified application

• end-to-end automation

• continuous communication

• employee referral program

• compelling employer brand

define skills and preferred profile

Identifying the necessary skills and the ideal candidate profile is the essential first step in any recruitment process. Therefore, before posting a new job opening:

1. take the time to determine which skills are critical for job success and which can be developed through training or on-the-job experience.

2. gather input from employees and supervisors to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the position.

3. Start outlining the characteristics, skills, and qualifications you seek. AI-based tools or customizable logistics job description templates can help you create thorough and accurate job descriptions.

With the skills gap expected to widen, your company must also focus on reskilling and upskilling its current workforce. For example, you can offer an on-site forklift certification program. These skill development offerings will allow you to entice more candidates to apply and stay within your company.

As more and more companies in the logistics industry invest in workplace automation technology, such as robotics, the need for workers with digital skills has increased. Make sure that your job descriptions highlight these needed skills.

Furthermore, seize the opportunity to revamp your current job descriptions. Before posting new job listings, review your current job descriptions to ensure they correctly describe the position's duties and all related skills. You should include desirable soft skills like decision-making, communication, and time management.

employ logistics-specific channels

Optimize your recruitment process by employing communication channels tailored to the logistics sector, such as Indeed, Glassdoor, ASCM, and JobsInLogistics.com. Channels like these attract candidates actively pursuing logistics industry careers, increasing your chances of identifying top-tier talent.

However, keep in mind that many candidates are not actively looking for jobs, meaning they are not likely to visit job posting sites or company career pages. This factor means you must also go beyond advertising job openings on job boards and traditional social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. For instance, you can join groups online where the professionals you seek gather. Before you advertise your available position, take the time to build trust with the group members.

simplify the application procedure

A straightforward, user-friendly application process is crucial for an effective recruitment strategy. For example, interested candidates should be able to complete the application process quickly and effortlessly from their mobile devices. This step is vital because a lengthy application process discourages potential candidates, with a recent Appcast report indicating that over 95% of individuals do not submit an application after clicking on the job ad.

So, take steps to minimize the time necessary to complete the initial application phase. Keep it simple by having the candidates respond to a few but highly relevant questions and submit their applications through text messaging or QR code scanning for optimal convenience.

automate as much as possible

The manual process of reviewing applications, screening candidates, and arranging interviews can be both challenging and time-consuming. However, by utilizing AI or dedicated software, you can automate these processes, significantly saving time and enhancing accuracy in identifying the best talent.

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) designed for logistics recruitment can be an excellent tool for achieving a successful hiring campaign. These sophisticated platforms automate and consolidate candidate management, streamlining job postings, resume parsing, and applicant screening, ensuring precise alignment with logistics-specific skills and qualifications. You can leverage ATS capabilities to configure tailored workflows, automate candidate interactions, and seamlessly coordinate with hiring teams.

stay in touch throughout the process

Continuous communication is vital in employee recruitment, as it builds relationships and shows candidates that you value their interest in your job opening. It also reduces the risk of potential candidate drop-offs. 

Integrating automation in candidate communication can simplify recruitment processes and provide a better experience for applicants. For example, you can implement chatbots on your career page to answer common questions and provide immediate assistance. In addition, automated reminders for interviews or assessments can help ensure candidates stay informed, providing timely updates at every stage of the process.

activate an employee referral program

One of the best ways to source candidates is through a strong employee referral program. Encourage current employees to refer individuals who align with your job description and company culture. In addition, motivate them to share job postings on social media to broaden your outreach. To enhance the success of your referral program, implement incentives for employees who recommend qualified logistics professionals, and make sure to recognize and reward those successful referrals.

build a compelling employer brand

Boosting your employer brand is an effective strategy for your company to stand out in the rapidly expanding logistics industry. Today's logistics candidates are well aware of the staffing shortage in the job market, which has given them the luxury of being very selective about which companies they apply to. This factor is especially true for highly skilled professionals. 

Therefore, it's more important than ever for your logistics and supply chain company to take proactive measures by building a solid and positive employer brand. Here are some tips to get you started:

conduct an employer brand audit

1. perform an online search of your brand to identify any problem areas and utilize pulse surveys to better understand how your current workforce views your brand

2. undertake in-depth market research to evaluate the status of your competition

With this information, your company should be able to identify two or three areas of improvement. Use strategic planning to tackle these issues.

develop a strong Employee Value Proposition

One key component of any employer brand strategy is the development of a strong Employee Value Proposition (EVP). An effective EVP simply explains why a candidate would want to work for your company. It should clearly define the benefits and perks the company provides its employees in exchange for their skills and talents.

market your brand

Recruitment is not a post-it and forget-it process. Instead, it requires a planned marketing strategy that ensures your job posting reaches your target audience. Use various posting options, including online job boards, social media, and professional association boards, to further extend your marketing reach. In addition, be sure to develop a dedicated career web page to provide interested candidates with more information about the company's goals, values, and brand.

Randstad conducts extensive employer brand research every year to help companies develop a brand that resonates with their target candidates. These insights can help employers better understand what candidates are looking for in an employer.

As the global logistics market is expected to grow by $5.63 trillion from 2023 to 2031, small and medium-sized companies within this highly competitive sector must indeed step up their game in attracting and retaining logistics talent. Employing several or all of the strategies outlined in this article will provide a solid platform for a successful recruitment process.