Punch your hiring problem with a fist, don't poke it with a finger
It will take a village to hire for your village. Colonel Rob Campbell
Attracting, hiring and retaining talent is a massive challenge these days. I'm not entirely sure of the reason and causes but I do know several companies are struggling greatly to find people. Some have been forced to shrink or adjust their offerings as a result. Healthcare, the trade professions and transportation (among others) have been hit hard. Some are taking extreme measures offering salaries they can barely afford and or bonuses to attract new talent. Some have become desperate, hiring anyone who comes through the door. But while the hiring landscape has changed, company approaches to hiring have not.
To address this hiring problem, companies typically seek assistance from a hiring agency or programs like Indeed or Ziprecruiter or they pin the rose on HR. In essence, the solution depends upon a single person or program. But a problem of this scale requires a more comprehensive approach. How about making it everyone's problem? After all, who better to find the right people for your team than your own teammates? They know and espouse company culture and values and meet expectations and they can find people who show equal potential.
In a country of over 328 million people with 3.7 million high school graduates and 3.9 million college graduates entering the workforce each year, I refuse to believe there are no people to be found. Everyone knows someone, several people in fact, and those people know someone. Leaders across any organization should be charged with fixing this. HR can be the central manager and hiring programs are essential, but this problem needs to be placed on the lap of every leader, and person on the team.
Leaders ought to be tasked to produce names of potential candidates weekly. They can and should be integral in interviewing. A company desparate for hires ought to build 'hiring' in to its organizational rhythm. Hiring meetings where leaders and individuals can strategize and share new ideas ought to be a new organizational ritual. Small groups of teammates can analyze the problems, their causes and challenge each other to find solutions. Awards for hiring performance can be developed and bonuses for new hires created. The ideas and possibilities are endless if given the proper resources and priority.
It's time for a mass frontal attack, not a surgical strike to address this massive hiring challenge. If what you are doing today is not producing results, make some sweeping changes. Start by sharing the problem.
Share the problem with me! Call on me today or connect me with an organization or leader in need of help.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell