It’s hard to believe that a second wave of COVID-19 cases is on the rise. This week alone, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients increased 5% in 36 states. Additionally, this week the US reported an average of nearly 70,000 new cases every day (October 20-October 27). This has been the highest seven-day average yet, according to a CNBC analysis. And in Chicago, where I live, indoor dining at restaurants will once again be suspended.

This all feels like we are back where we started in March. In fact, it resembles the movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray’s character, Phil Connors, wakes up and is revived on the same day. While a second wave is not good news, the good news is that we have experienced this before and have learned from it. Below are 7 tips staffing companies need to remember to stay on top and succeed as we head into the winter months.

1. Switch to a cloud-based staffing software solution

If you don’t already have a cloud-based workforce software solution, now is the time to make the switch. One of the main reasons is so that your staffing company can operate safely and productively from home. Even if your business is going to the office now, it’s critical to be prepared in case it’s no longer safe to have your entire team in the office. As we know from the last time, the situation changed quickly like the switch of a button. One minute our team was in the office and the next minute we were gone and wouldn’t be back for months.

A cloud-based staffing software gives your team the ability to work from anywhere. While this is important during current times, in normal times it is also a huge benefit as recruiters are on the go visiting clients. They can easily enter their notes while hopping between clients.

Another major benefit is the security aspect. There has been an increase in compromised data during the pandemic. As if we don’t have enough to worry about, hackers are on the prowl. They have been targeting remote workers as they know companies had to struggle and implement patchy security protocols. A good cloud-based staffing software solution will invest in high-level data security. However, it is extremely important to note that not all staffing software providers invest in the same amount of security. It is essential to ask yourself how secure your data will be when you switch to a cloud solution. Never assume that your data is safe. Features of a secure cloud solution include:

• The data is stored in a high-level data center. Tier 3 and Tier 4 data centers provide the highest security with an uptime of approximately 99.982% and 99.995%, respectively.

• Cloud data is stored in multiple data centers, so in the event that “the cloud goes down,” your data will still be backed up and secure in another.

• Multiple security protocols are in place in the data center itself, including extensive backup power sources, fingerprint access between rooms, locked cages, 24-hour monitoring, and armed guards. Only a few key IT people at the software company should have access to the physical data.

• Backups run daily. Ideally, incremental backups are done throughout the day with a full backup at the end of each day.

• Several layers of firewall protection are in place.

2. Invest in the right interview technology

If your staff are working from home, candidates will also not be able to attend an interview. Find the right interview platform for your company. Whether it’s simply through a webinar platform or professional video interview software. Finding the right solution for your company is imperative so recruiters can continue to conduct interviews without missing a beat. Investing in the right interview technology is important not only to keep your business running smoothly, but also to keep it looking professional from a candidate’s perspective during an interview.

3. Partner with high-demand industries

This may mean the need to venture into new lines of business that you have never worked in before. If you haven’t already tapped into high-demand industries during the pandemic, now is the time to venture into these lines of business. Some of the industries with high demand include: Food/Alcohol/Grocery, Medical/Devices, Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Delivery Services, Trucking/Railway, Paper Products, Antibacterial/Cleaning Products and more. These are all industries worth targeting to keep your business going. Having a diversified portfolio in difficult times is more important than ever.

You should also look for companies that are hiring in large numbers. Every day on LinkedIn News, LinkedIn updates its “Here’s Who’s Hiring Right Now” list. It’s a list that would be worth checking every morning to see if there are any companies you could partner with.

4. Use the capabilities of your ATS/CRM

The data stored in your ATS/CRM is more valuable than you think. Think of all the clients and candidates you have stored in your database. You may have hundreds or even thousands of clients and candidates. You can find new business and candidates right in front of you! The key is knowing how to search.

Looking for Clients

Searching by client industry, state, and location is the most basic, yet powerful search. If you’re trying to target those industries with high demand, it would help to search by industry, location (start with the companies near you), and an inactive status (meaning you’re not currently doing business with them). A “full text search” is another powerful search feature that allows you to search for key terms in each customer profile. If you want to search for “doctor”, it will search for all customers who have the word “doctor” anywhere on their profile, whether it be in an email, text message, note, comment, etc. Not all ATS/CRM solutions have a “full-text search”, but if yours does, you’ll want to make sure you’re taking advantage of it.

Searching by Last Contact, Work Orders, and Candidate Employment History are also unique searches that may be of value to you. Last Contact would allow you to search for companies that you have not worked with recently, removing companies that you have recently contacted that did not need services. Searching by work order is beneficial because you can identify companies that you have worked with in the past. There may be customers on the list that you haven’t contacted in a while who could use your services. Searching by Candidate’s Employment History is a unique search that may not immediately come to mind. This allows you to search a candidate’s profile for companies they have worked for in the past. It is a way to find new customers who are not yet in your system.

As you find customers you want to communicate with, be sure to add them to a pipeline. This is an efficient way to track down the businesses you found in your search so you can start connecting with them.

Looking for Candidates

Similarly, you can use the search features of your staffing software to find candidates. Searching by position, skills, and industry is a good basic search to start with. One thing you might consider is looking for candidates who work in industries that aren’t doing well. They may be looking for work or even be out of work. You may find an overlap in their skills or employment history that would qualify them for placement in a different industry that is in higher demand. As with clients, searching by last contact date is also a valuable search for identifying candidates you haven’t contacted in some time. As you find candidates you want to reach out to, be sure to also create a candidate pipeline so you can easily review the list when you’re ready to contact them.

5. Continuous communication with clients

Remember to maintain frequent communication with clients, even if they don’t have staffing needs. Keep relationships with your customers strong by staying in touch and being a resource to them so when they’re ready to hire again, you’ll be on the top of their mind. Businesses can simply send resources to clients every other week, such as blog articles, eBooks, industry webinar information, webinars you’re hosting, and more. These are all ways to continue to build your customer relationships in a long-term partnership.

6. keep marketing

Often, the marketing budget is the first item to be cut in tough times. If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic and past recessions, cutting back on your marketing resources may be the worst thing you can do. Marketing your business in tough times is crucial for a couple of reasons:

1. Clients and candidates know that you are still in business.

2. Your company looks strong.

If a prospect or client visits your website or social media pages, you want them to know right away that you’re in business. If you stay quiet and they don’t see activity, they may assume you’re no longer in business. This also applies to email marketing. If clients, prospects, and candidates don’t see email communication during these times, they’ll quickly forget about you. Don’t forget or get lost in the shuffle. Keep communicating and promoting your company!

By communicating through social media, emails, and other marketing channels, your business looks strong too. Candidates and clients will see that you are still an active company and they will see you as a leader in the industry that they can turn to.

7. stay positive

Perhaps the last and most important piece of advice (perhaps the most difficult piece of advice) is stay positive. The thought of going backwards instead of forwards with the state of the COVID-19 pandemic can be difficult, but you have to keep your head up and push yourself. Maintaining a positive attitude will help you succeed and will also help your team members stay motivated. Also make sure you find time to do the things that make you happy and relax, whether it’s cooking, doing yoga, going for a walk, watching shows on Netflix, etc. Taking time to do the things you love will help keep you positive!