According to the CIPD definition, talent management is the “systematic attraction, identification, development, engagement, retention, and deployment of those individuals who are of particular value to an organisation”. But what does this mean to your organisation?
The way you manage talent will depend on the level of experience and specialisation of your staff, their department, as well as the sector you operate in. While it’s easier to stick to the same old talent management processes, it’s important to remember that as times change, the way you recruit and develop your people also needs to evolve.
One of the most defining phenomena of today’s job market is what we call “the Great Resignation”. With a fast-moving, candidate-driven market – and candidates that are increasingly focused on what’s best for them – an efficient talent management strategy will be the key to remaining a competitive employer.
Between digital disruption and the shifting priorities of job seekers and employees, it’s no surprise that an agile and holistic approach to talent management is the way to go. Here are a few reasons why we suggest you should review the way you hire and manage talent:
In 2017, Jacob Morgan published a study* explaining that companies who invest in employee experience environments (including tech, culture and physical space) are four times more profitable than companies that don’t.
In a pandemic world, this might involve providing tech and home office supplies that support healthy hybrid working (headsets, chairs, monitors, etc). People are more tech curious than ever, so investing in IT training is a good way to boost buy-in and productivity.
Culture-wise, the lack of office interaction can be an opportunity to encourage employee wellbeing initiatives. Here are some simple yet engaging ways of keeping spirits high:
Beyond fun Zoom calls and fancy team lunches, investing in the employee experience will play a big part when it comes to retaining and attracting talent. With millions of people reconsidering the way they see work, this could very well make the difference when competing for niche skills or counteroffering a competitor’s job offer.
Finally, we can’t forget the power of data in honing your talent management strategy. Embracing new ways of gathering employee insights is a great way to access people analytics and make conscious decisions to improve performance and areas of continuous improvement like D&I.
While recruitment isn’t the only element of talent management, it’s worth analysing how a strong employee value proposition (EVP) can help you market your opportunities to prospective talent, and retain them in a competitive job market.
Let’s paint a picture. You’ve been struggling with a tough-to-fill role for a while: perhaps because of its niche skill requirements, or because your business hasn’t built a solid talent pool quite yet.
Fortunately, you find your perfect fit. And in the words of The Godfather, you’re able to quickly make them an offer they can’t refuse: a competitive salary, and a unique EVP that lead to an accepted job offer.
While this is the ideal scenario, the truth is many companies lose valuable people due to weak employer brands, or slow-decision making in the recruitment process. Speed is in fact a hugely influential factor, as endless interview rounds and indefinite waiting periods only make picking your competitor’s offer easier. Remember an efficient recruitment process along with regular communication and feedback can truly make the difference when candidates compare competitive job offers.
Developing an EVP should be a priority in your talent management strategy – but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach out for expert help.
We get you. While digitalisation has revolutionised the way you recruit and manage talent, the constant changes in the job market make it easy to be overwhelmed by the peskier details of recruitment. Let alone thinking critically about improving your talent management strategy!
So this is where we come in. As a local recruitment agency, we work in close collaboration with our clients to help them find – and retain – the best talent in south Wales. If you’re struggling with a role or would like to chat about how you do things, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here.
* The Employee Experience Advantage: How to Win the War for Talent by Giving Employees the Workspaces they Want, the Tools they Need, and a Culture They Can Celebrate – Jacob Morgan, 2017.
The experience of working with Sitka was really enjoyable. It was like talking to a friend who knew all the answers to my future career.
The recruitment process was thorough and straight forward, and the quality of candidate provided was very good to say the least. The best thing about the recruitment process was, apart from explaining the job role and what we were looking for, I had little to do but to interview!
I have always dealt with Karen and have found the recruitment process generally excellent. The calibre of candidates has always been strong and the candidates also show enthusiasm towards the job and company they are interviewing for. I am very happy with the service we receive from Sitka and we have always appointed from the first round of interviews.
Sitka wanted to know about the organisation, our culture, our plans and aspirations. This meant they could be really confident talking about us and I’d like to think they were proud to be working on our behalf.
The recruitment process was easy, and after our initial conversation with Ita she advised us on how to fine tune the job specification and tailor to to attract the right candidate for our needs. The delivery and recruitment service was swift and Ita kept us informed at every stage of the process.
The candidate we chose in the end was the right fit for our business. They have just passed their probationary period with flying colours and have fitted in like they have always worked for us.
The recruitment process was excellent. Karen provided me with updates on a regular basis and the level of communication at all points was handled very well. The whole recruitment process was handled extremely efficiently from start to finish.