The recruitment industry is often so focused on bums on seats that it forgets that at the heart of each hire is a real person. We should never lose sight of the very real human impact offering roles can have on people's lives says Sam Spoors, managing director and founder of talent acquisition firm Talentheads.
What is a successful recruitment strategy? Is it one where roles are never unfilled for long and vacancies are immediately snapped up? Or where the probation period allows us off the hook if that person isn’t right?
For too long, the answer has been yes, consolidated by the fact that a lot of what we hear about recruitment is led by the hiring side: staff shortages, a hugely competitive market, the difficulty of finding the right person for the job.
And while all of these are valid viewpoints, I look at it differently. For me, recruiting successfully can quite literally change lives – and we may have slightly lost sight of that.
While a job helps pay the bills, for many people it’s so much more than that; it’s an identity, something to be proud of, or that gives them purpose in life.
Taking the pandemic as an example…thousands of people were furloughed (albeit temporarily) while thousands more lost their jobs.
A study by the Mental Health Foundation found that unemployment has a range of negative effects, including poverty or a drop in standards of living, stress associated with financial insecurity, shame and the loss of vital social networks.
It also found that unemployment is associated with symptoms of distress, depression, anxiety, psychosomatic symptoms and a drop in wellbeing and self-esteem.
So it’s clear that recruitment, done well, has a huge impact not only on people’s finances, but their overall health and purpose too.
Or take the young person who’s taking their first steps on the career ladder after education. A job that fits gives them a chance to grow, to see the world and gain new skills; in short, it allows them to fulfil their potential.
Yet these examples, and many others, only really work when recruitment is done well.
At Talentheads, we firmly believe that we all need to see the bigger picture, both employers and employees, when it comes to making sure we invest in long-term opportunities – with long term impact.
It’s not just about filling a gap; recruiting holistically, as we do, means that we look at everything – skills, yes, but also values, life experience, career stage, culture and purpose fit – to get the right match.
Not only does this ensure a happier, more productive work environment for all concerned, it increases the chances of retention successes reducing the churn and limiting the amount we need to recruit in the first place.
However, something we also see too often is that recruitment is not given the focus and support it deserves and needs, instead being carried out by managers, office staff and marketing teams who often lack training and confidence – so no wonder it’s frequently unsuccessful.
That’s why we also recently launched a range of training sessions on all things recruitment and retention, to upskill those people who find that hiring people has, perhaps unexpectedly, become part of their day job.
Our practical workshops, which started in August and will be held in Newcastle throughout the rest of the year, equip recruiters, hiring managers and anyone involved in the hiring process with the skills, knowledge and confidence to navigate the challenges it brings.
Topics we’ll be covering include planning your recruitment strategy for long-term growth and retention, sourcing the right candidates and best practice for shortlisting. Each session will be hosted by a member of our very own Talentheads team and will answer all the questions guests have on their particular topic, along with practical skills to put into practice in a real-life setting.
For more information, call the Learning Team on 0191 300 8688, email hello@talentheads.co.uk, visit www.talentheads.co.uk or register at www.eventbrite.com/o 69131364663