Last year, my predictions for the top three recruiting trends of 2017 were new technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), a focus on workplace diversity, and talent rediscovery.

Although Americans are notoriously bad for not taking their vacation time—even when they’ve accrued it–paid time off (PTO) remains one of the most attractive benefits employers can offer. So, when you’re hiring, don’t underestimate its importance as a recruiting tool. Having outdated PTO policies or offering minimal vacation, sick, and personal time can turn potential candidates off. Generous policies, on the other hand, can help you secure your next dream hire. Here’s what you need to know about why PTO matters so much.

Employment Enterprises’ Recruiting Lead, Susan Signorella, has been sourcing professional candidates for us for two and a half years. From niche-skilled engineers to high-level auditors, Susan has led her team to effectively recruit these candidates for our customized Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) model. Read below to learn why Susan believes that our RPO is a “no-brainer” solution for your high-level staffing needs.

We’re hot on the heels of summer, which, for employers in seasonal industries like tourism, means hiring is in high gear. For these employers, this type of hiring can pose two key challenges: 1) HR spends time and effort scouting, screening, and hiring employees who likely won’t stick around after September 2.) The temporary nature of the work can narrow the applicant pool and make it tough to recruit enough of the right people.

It’s no longer news–to employers or to potential employees–that social media accounts offer a glimpse into the lives of applicants that has never before been possible. At least, that’s the case for those whose information is made available to the public, whether by design or by accident. This enables hiring managers to approach their applicant pool with more information than ever. But using these tools comes with several caveats–some cons to balance out the pros, both from legal and ethical standpoints. Here are some potential pitfalls as well as some good ideas to make sure you’re using these tools wisely.

Every day, first impressions shape how people interact with each other and how they feel about those interactions. They influence how people engage with all aspects of the world around them–including recruiting. Given how much of recruiting comes down to understanding and evaluating people in a limited amount of time, one could argue that much of a recruiter’s job depends on how well he or she has mastered the ability to get an accurate first impression.

Quality interviews are crucial for the success of your company during the hiring process. As you continue to hire new people, asking the right questions in an interview will help ensure you get a clear snapshot of who your candidates are right from the start. So, how do you know if you are asking the right questions to best identify if a candidate is a proper fit?

Remember the good old days when it was HR who expected a thank you note from a candidate after the interview? Well a convergence of events has flipped the tables and now some companies have found that sending thank you notes to candidates is a good way to acquire top talent.