Across the board, hiring is tough right now. The Great Resignation has heated up competition for top talent, and HR and talent acquisition leaders are devoting just as much energy to trying to keep workers from walking out the door as they are to bringing new employees in. And, it’s about to get even harder.

We’re heading into holiday hiring season, a peak time for many organizations, especially those that require temporary and part-time help. As the economy slowly bounces back, forecasts are calling for a robust holiday shopping and travel season, which is going to fuel job creation in sectors include retail, hospitality, transportation and many more. Given the already challenging conditions hiring leaders are facing, HR professionals are at risk of burning out.

There’s no pushing the pause button on the Great Resignation or changing the context that is fueling this increasingly high-pressured candidate’s market. Instead, employers need to be realistic about what their hiring teams are facing and give them the tools to be working smarter—not necessarily harder.

Technology can be a key player in that equation. HR and technology have become synonymous, especially since the pandemic, which has driven more HR teams to adopt advanced technology solutions to manage everything from communication among remote workers to evolving compliance expectations and even innovative approaches to employee engagement. It’s also a vital tool in recruitment, hiring and onboarding efforts.

ISS’ new Opportunity Engine app is a prime example of how technology can be used to help HR navigate its most pressing hiring challenges. OpEn is a tool built with modern workers, and workplaces, in mind. All within one app, prospective employees can search for work, apply for open positions, onboard and get ready to work. Job seekers have the convenience of undergoing the entire hiring process right from their phones, with that same level of flexibility following through to self-scheduling and on-demand pay through our PayActiv tool. Workers can also access online continuing education programs through Next Step U, all at no cost.

While the benefits to workers of tech tools like OpEn are clear, there is just as much opportunity for employers. OpEn allows for on-demand hiring—so, when your company is in a pinch and needs to boost staffing, as often happens during the busy holiday hiring season, the app can quickly connect you with workers who are ready at a moment’s notice. Once a job posting goes live, the app sends out notifications to qualified candidates—in minutes jumpstarting a process that often takes days or even weeks.

The speed and 24/7 availability of such tech tools means that time to hire is reduce and vacancies are quickly filled—enhancing productivity and profitability. OpEn can funnel candidates quickly into positions where there’s a gap in shift coverage or can connect your company with workers for more long-term placements. And in the process, the entire paper trail is digitized and automated—everything from onboarding paperwork to shift scheduling is managed through OpEn.



By transferring the tedious, often time-consuming work associated with hiring to a technology solution like OpEn, employers are able to free up their HR talent to do what they’re best at: representing the human face of the organization. Technology alone isn’t the solution to all of HR’s problems but, with a smart partnership between tech and HR pros, employers are better positioned to tackle the hiring challenges coming their way.