Developing Nordic wide recruitment process

Abstract

Thesis is based on large international workforce solutions organization which has operations over 80 countries around world. Writer works on Nordic organization and in 2020 established business unit in Finland which offers graduated IT consultants for clients' projects. Purpose of this thesis is to document recruitment process in each Nordic country and create harmonized process for Nordic wide use which is utilizing cutting edge technology and process automation. Thesis answers for two research questions which are which parts in the recruitment process are repetitive and most time-consuming, and secondly how to automate these tasks. Talent market is highly competitive and suffering from talent shortage which causes pressure to efficient and successful recruitment and additionally, well-designed talent acquisition helps organizations in tight labor market to attract top talents and reach for growing business targets.

Data collection and virtual interviews were held on summer 2022 and interviewees answered for 18 questions. Based on answers we can see that Norway, where business is most matured and employees have most experience too, recruitment process is holding least steps whereas Finland have most process steps with Sweden and have less experienced employees too. Recruitment processes in Sweden, Norway and Finland have many similarities where applicants are guided through process with interviewing them, assessing and giving them opportunities to show their expertise for IT consultant position. Denmark has most different process compared to other countries but after two first steps of the process, similarities with other Nordic countries increase.

Most time-consuming and repetitive tasks in the recruitment process were test result administration, interviewing, sourcing, and applicant communication. Process in general is repetitive which increases hiring decision productivity, but data filling and use of different systems is time-consuming and was seeing by participants as a high potential for automation. Growing business needs and applicant shortage creates pressure for recruiting and increases need for applicant attraction and employer branding. Recommendation is that organization will harmonize process and start using similar process in each Nordic country. New process eliminates bottlenecks in recruitment, increases efficiency and releases recruiter’s time for strategic tasks. New process utilizes technology such as chatbot and robotic process automation, which increases recruitment transparency, applicant experience and recruitment efficiency. Robotic process automation eliminates repetitive and time-consuming test administration work and helps organization to set key performance indicators and scale operations in the future. New process will leverage technology and help organization to cut unnecessary steps in the process, while increasing employee satisfaction and their input on tasks which creates highest business value such as strategic recruitment planning, interviewing, assessing cultural fit and negotiation of salary.