Hiring top talent: 4 tips for talent acquisition specialists

For many organisations today, having the best talent acquisition strategy is a top priority. It makes sense as people are an organisation's most valuable asset, particularly employees with specific skillsets. Building a successful talent acquisition strategy will not only boost the overall success of your organisation, but a good track record will also escalate your position in the talent acquisition ladder. It will also increase employee performance and productivity, employee engagement and employee retention.

The good news is, talent acquisition specialists need not reinvent the wheel when it comes to planning for a talent acquisition strategy. It is a matter of adapting to certain tactics that fit your own organisation. If you are new to talent acquisition or are in the midst of restructuring your acquisition efforts, here are 4 versatile tips for you to consider:

1. Improve your talent pool

You can improve your talent pool through several ways. For example, invest time in building partnerships with universities or recruitment firms such as JobStreet.com. There is also the option of advertising in professional media publication house or business radio stations where their target audience meets your target demographic. You can also consider talented remote workers and stipulate that remote workers need to report to the office at least once a week to ensure that they consistently produce desired results despite working from home. By opening your options to remote workers, you can also cut down on overheads.

2. Involve your employees

Some companies are not accustomed to involving their employees when it comes to talent acquisition. This should not be the case as your best employees are more likely to spot good talents and are able to attract them as they can market your company for you. Get them actively involved in industry professional seminars and conferences to increase the chances of them meeting such talents in the same industry. You may also want to utilise your employees further through employee referral programmes. Offer attractive rewards that can encourage your existing employees to actively tap into their networks to help find a specific skillset for you.

3. Simplify job applications

Many online job applications require jobseekers to enter a lengthy and time-consuming process. For example, some companies require jobseekers to enter a large amount of their information in the company's specific form followed by uploading the jobseeker's resume. Most of these excessive information collected are redundant as useful information can easily be found in the jobseeker's latest resume. The painstaking and rather complex process could result in jobseekers abandoning the application process halfway. Modern jobseekers are used to fast, simple and mobile-friendly applications therefore your job applications should also possess the same criteria.

4. Establish a good recruiting brand

In order to attract the best talent, you need to be known as a trusted employer and ensure that your workplace is viewed as a great place to work. This involves ensuring every jobseeker in your talent pool receives the best possible recruiting experience regardless of whether they are shortlisted for the role or not. It is crucial to establish a good reputation from the very beginning as any form of interaction would leave a lasting impression. Consistent communication is the key and jobseekers who received great experience with timely responses can potentially share their positive views of your company with others even if they are not hired.

Attracting top talents to your organisation is a continuous process that will yield immense benefits in the near future. The tips detailed here will not only improve your overall recruitment strategy but your talent acquisition efforts as well. Start by expanding your talent pool before you even need it. Always seek help from your best employees as they will be able to identify the social networks and communities where specialists in the industry gather. Build a reputation that your employees will be proud of and talents would seek you out because they respect and want to be a part of your brand. Finally, ensure that your job application process is precise and convenient, allowing your jobseekers to apply for any job in just a matter of minutes.

Here's a ‘4 tips summary infographic' to kick-start your talent acquisition strategy.