Offer hourly wage increases or bonuses

COVID-19 has forced many companies to cut wages. But if you’re struggling to attract the right candidates, you may want to consider raising hourly wages or offering signing bonuses as a way to stand out. In fact, the share of job postings that mention hiring incentives has doubled, to 5.0% on December 3, 2021 from 2.5% one year earlier.
 

Along with providing an extra incentive for people to apply, offering a pay raise or bonus can show candidates that your company puts its employees first — which can help build a positive workplace culture.
 

Reach out to candidates that are #readytowork now

Instead of waiting for job seekers to apply to your job postings, you can also search for candidates who are willing to start work right away using Indeed Resume’s new “#readytowork” filter.
 

With this new feature, job seekers who are actively looking for work during the pandemic can add the hashtag #readytowork to the resume in their Indeed profile to indicate their immediate availability. Once you find a #readytowork candidate who’s a good match for your open role, all you have to do is reach out to them to set up an interview.
 

One employer reported that #readytowork candidates are typically more responsive than other candidates: “I have had better results by searching for candidates with the #readytowork option. It hasn’t resulted in the greatest turnaround, but they have been the only interviews I have been able to schedule.”
 

Related: How Indeed Can Support a Digital Hiring Process
 

Update job postings to reflect your COVID-19 action plan

Reassure candidates that their health and safety is a priority by specifying what new procedures your business is following to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 (e.g., vaccination requirements, staggered shifts, reduced customer capacity, face mask policy, enhanced cleaning procedures).
 

Another way to help you recruit during COVID-19 is to be completely transparent about your interview process. Can the entire interview process happen remotely, or will candidates be required to interview in-person at some point? For on-site interviews, explain how you’re maintaining a safe interview environment (e.g. socially distanced interviews, avoiding handshakes, symptom questionnaires, temperature checks). Here’s some sample language you can use to describe your interview process:
 

• [Option 1: If on-site interviews are necessary] The safety of our candidates and employees is our top priority. If you are selected, you will be contacted for a [phone or video screen], which could then be followed by a formal on-site interview. [Company name] follows social distancing guidelines for all in-person interviews, as well as [list of other health and safety precautions].
• [Option 2: If your interview process is entirely remote] The safety of our candidates and employees is our top priority. Due to COVID-19, our entire interview process will take place remotely. If you are selected, all of your interviews will be conducted virtually via [phone or video].

Adopt perks that support mental, physical and emotional health

To compete with higher-than-usual unemployment benefits, consider offering some added benefits or unique perks that will appeal to workers during the pandemic. For example, providing mental health resources (e.g., online therapy sessions, meditation apps) is a great way to set yourself apart and show your commitment to employee well-being.
 

Given the heightened concerns around physical health, financial well-being and childcare responsibilities, some other ideas for perks (either temporary or permanent) could include: access to telemedicine services, expanded paid sick leave, financial wellness programs and child care assistance. Target, for instance, gave all of its employees access to backup family care benefits during COVID-19.
 

You can also try unique, one-off perks to improve “quarantine life,” including:
 

• Grocery delivery stipends
• Memberships to streaming services like Netflix or Spotify
• Subscriptions to online fitness classes
• Free snack boxes
• Reimbursement for remote working expenses (e.g., laptop, Wi-Fi, desk)

Highlight long-term career growth opportunities

An unemployment check is only temporary. In fact, the federal government’s $600 weekly unemployment boost expired at the end of July 2020. Its replacement, the Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program paid out an extra $300 per week and ended on December 27, 2020. Show candidates that a job at your business can offer long-term stability that extends well beyond the government’s expiration date.
 

To help candidates recognize the temporary nature of collecting unemployment, highlight the long-term growth opportunities available at your company. Consider outlining typical career tracks or providing specific examples of how people have advanced their careers. Here is some sample language you can include with your job descriptions:
 

• “Most of our [role title]s started out as [role title]s — we primarily hire from within.”
• “We offer real career growth opportunities — top performers are promoted to salaried positions. We have multiple team members who have advanced to [role title]s.”
• “At [Company name], there is plenty of opportunity for job advancement. For example, we prefer to hire internally for [role title], [role title] and [role title].”

Hiring during a pandemic is enough of a challenge, even without taking into account job seekers who may be making more money without jobs than with them. But with these COVID-19 recruiting strategies in mind, you can set yourself up to attract more candidates, make the right hires and get back to business as soon as possible.