There have been a lot of clichéd phrases used to describe the “unprecedented times” we live in which we ponder what the “new normal” is and what will remain of the “past we’re leaving behind.”

While these expressions might seem a bit hollow, they do contain a very real truth: things are not the same and things are not going to go back to the way they were. That’s why, when the world shifted for us at TSA Group—Australia’s leading specialists in CX consultancy and services —we knew the time was now to make some major changes.

With the onset of COVID-19, our small team of 13 recruiters (seven full-time and six part-time) found itself in a high pressure situation. Our clients were coming to us asking for more support, as the volume of calls were steadily increasing.

As unemployment skyrocketed, we also knew that through supporting our clients, we were supporting the community by providing a positive candidate experience and meaningful work opportunities when it was needed most.

We were hiring for all types of contact center roles from team leaders to customer service representatives. Our current operation had worked for us for a long time, but the time had come to scale a contingent workforce rapidly. In order to take on the influx of volume we saw coming, we knew we needed to look externally for support.

That’s when I reached out to SmartRecruiters. 

We had to switch to a system that could enable a digital hiring process, handle the volume of placements we needed and still be cost effective. Because the change had to happen fast, the system had to be intuitive. In a normal scenario, we would have time to build a training program and roll out gradually. Now was not that time. We needed to work with someone who met deadlines and was able to deliver on time. You know… people who walk the talk.

In just nine days, we went live with SmartRecruiters.

I must give a huge shoutout to Ben Rynja. There were many nights on the phone with him and the SmartRecruiters team. We were learning how to use the system AS it was being built and implemented—building the plane while it’s in the air, so to speak.

There wasn’t time for a designed process—we instead augmented/updated it as we moved candidates through the pipeline based on feedback from our recruiters and our candidates. We both put in long hours and formed a true partnership while working together to make this happen.

Our success has been phenomenal. In just three weeks we’ve had:

• 16,135 applications
• 210 hires
• 97% Hiring Velocity (roles filled on time)

Most importantly, our candidate experience has only improved. You see, we are receiving a large amount of inquiries from people who are desperate to find a job right now. And TSA Group genuinely cares about people—whether you ultimately join our team or not.

We want you to find success. That experience starts from the first time a candidate receives a “Thank you for applying” message because we know that to receive acknowledgement is SO important right now. As is showing where a candidate is in the interview process. The automation available with SmartRecruiters makes it happen. 

It’s equally as important to go back in the timeline (at scale) and let candidates know if we are no longer recruiting for roles that are now on pause—without forcing our already labored recruiters to pick up the phone and be overwhelmed with that daunting task.

This mass communication was received with an overwhelmingly positive response by our candidates. “Please retain my details and reach out to me when things improve” is the best kind of response to receive. 

COVID-19 is a time I won’t forget. For many reasons. This “unprecedented time” brought forth a new career highlight for me. I could finally give the amazing TSA Group recruitment team the tools they needed to supercharge their already incredible skills.

Candidates are getting tangible feedback giving them a level of confidence and trust in how they are progressing through the interview process. And the process is fair, fast and seamless. With SmartRecruiters, we were able to collaborate more effectively with hiring managers than ever before.

We had one operational manager per site delegated to working hand and glove with the team in assessing candidates, using SmartRecruiters. Being able to tag/comment within the system allows hiring managers the simplicity and flexibility they need to act quickly, interview fairly, and document the process well. By gaining feedback in real-time we were able to avoid unnecessary and costly delays throughout our process. 

Final Thoughts

It truly was a collaborative effort on all fronts that was transformational for both our TA team and our processes. This “unprecedented time” has allowed us to reevaluate our current position and leave a few things in the past. And we’re ok with that, because this “new normal” is something we’ve been wanting for a long time.

Find out how SmartRecruiters can partner with your company to transform your talent function and—like the TSA Group—achieve hiring success.