During challenging economic times, our talent acquisition teams face various obstacles, such as reduced hiring budgets, increased competition for top talent, and the need to adapt to evolving market conditions. Hiring managers and leaders are under immense pressure to deliver against crucial business initiatives, with human capital being the key enabler of their success. So, how can we excel in attracting and securing talent in this competitive landscape, where every hire is essential for the organizations we support?
This period is the perfect opportunity for transformation. Our mission remains unchanged: to discover and win talent. Our profession’s core purpose has remained unchanged since the “smile and dial” days. However, Zillow has adapted our talent acquisition mission to discover and win talent at scale with ingenuity and agility. How can you evolve your mission to align with our current climate and future state?
It’s important to navigate these challenges and proactively prepare your teams for transformation.
- You can focus on building a pipeline of potential candidates, even without immediate job openings. By maintaining a pool of qualified and interested candidates, you can fill open positions more rapidly when they arise. Nurturing relationships with candidates and informing them about suitable future opportunities can help build a strong talent pipeline.
- Ensure job descriptions accurately reflect the organization’s current needs. Collaborate with hiring managers to create realistic job descriptions clearly stating the required skills and experience for a role. Remember to incorporate aspects of your workplace culture and the potential impact a future employee can have in the position.
- Refine and promote your employer brand. Emphasize your organization’s culture, values, and unique offerings to differentiate yourself from competitors. Be specific, individual, and intentional in standing out, as candidates pay more attention to the organization’s values and culture during these uncertain times.
- Be flexible. Adapt to changing market conditions and consider alternative talent sources, such as contract workers or talent with transferable skills. These strategies can reduce costs and enable hiring teams to reach a wider pool of candidates. Now may be the best time to explore how AI and ML can streamline your process and automate time-consuming tasks, such as resume screening and interview scheduling. Embrace technology to create bandwidth for developing new and exciting skills.
Let’s seize this opportunity to participate in the evolution and future of Talent Acquisition. By slowing down, taking inventory of how we work, and adopting a more proactive approach, we can attract, pipeline, and hire top talent, even in a challenging economic climate. We are #bettertogether and will emerge from this moment stronger than before.
