Uncertainty abounds in today’s labor market - and many employers are grappling with unmet staffing needs following pandemic-related business closures, the subsequent talent shortage of the Great Resignation, and the unpredictability of a looming economic downturn.
Savvy employers are responding to the uncertainty with a nimble, proactive approach. When it comes to sourcing and hiring the best talent, you should consider trading in a traditional “talent acquisition” approach for a more holistic “talent access” strategy that focuses on flexibility.
Here are six ways to rethink your staffing strategy, as well as the legal considerations.
1. Developing a Holistic Approach
If “recruiting” means filling specific job vacancies, “talent acquisition” should be defined as a more strategic long-term strategy for attracting, hiring, and retaining the best employees.
“Talent access” takes this one step further, by identifying ways to welcome and access skilled talent beyond the traditional methods of posting job ads, soliciting referrals, and hiring full-time employees.
“Taking a talent access approach provides the flexibility to keep pace with a changing market and beat out the competition for high-demand skills,” says Zoe Harte, a member of Forbes Human Resources Council. “At moments of disruption and opportunity, like the current one, flexibility is essential to not only survive, but to thrive.”
2. Incorporating Freelance Workers into Your Business Model
The 21st Century workplace requires speed, ingenuity, and adaptability — and a traditional “talent acquisition” approach to hiring may be too slow and expensive because it focuses primarily on filling roles with full-time employees.
A “talent access” approach, however, recognizes that freelancers can play a critical role in meeting business needs when competition for talent is fierce and projects require rapid turnaround.
Read the full article here