While the unemployment rate remains high – right around 10 percent – the large pool of available talent may or may not match the skills you need for your upcoming hires. Recruiting high-potential talent is a challenge to most businesses, checking in with an unemployment rate closer to 6 percent.
This could be a problem for you either now or in the near future. You may be faced with a skills mismatch that could impact your core business. What can you do? Here are two ways to take action now.
1) Retain high-potentials – Don’t let your current high-potentials walk out the door. They will be in demand. Figure out ways to keep them around. If you can‘t give them more money, investigate other perks they may be interested in, e.g. flex schedules, high-profile assignments, training, mentoring, and career path plans.
2) Recruit with a better approach – Traditional recruiting tactics and tools should remain part of your mix, but consider new ways to find the high-potential talent you need. Expand your search to include social media, niche boards, expanded referral programs, networking groups, and professional organizations.
Think it will be easy to find the key talent you will need to succeed? Think again.
