The Talent Labs

The 24^th September 2024 saw the launch of our very first #Collaborate events since rebranding to The Talent Labs! It was wonderful to be back in Birmingham again and to be joined by a brilliant group of individuals for a day of all things Talent Acquisition (TA).

This full-day event was packed with all the things you’ve come to love about our previous #Firmdays – including industry insights, thought-provoking presentations and case studies, and of course, lots of opportunities to network with like-minded peers faced with similar challenges.

No event hosted by The Talent Labs would be complete without the ever-popular roundtable discussions – this time focussing on practical solutions and actions to help address some of the key pain points that TA folk are facing.

Pain Point 1: Partnerships

We talked a lot about the perception of TA within organisations, with the misperception of TA being seen more often as a service function rather than a strategic partner.

How can we change this perception?

There is a need for TA teams to advocate for themselves and influence without authority – something which we all know can be incredibly difficult, but with the right support, training and resources – TA teams can supercharge their business partnering skills and champion TA as a strategic partner.

Not sure where to begin? You can learn more about how to give TA a voice and the power of negotiation via our member dashboard.

We’re here to help! Find out more about our Training and Consultancy services, including live instructor-led training modules covering topics such as Business Partnering, all of which can be customised to suit your organisation!

Pain Point 2: Alignment

A lively discussion was had about the need to address the disconnect between Senior Leadership Teams (SLT) and TA. As anyone in TA knows (and probably has experienced), this disconnect only serves to create a negative culture and can make it difficult to clearly communicate a strong and positive Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to candidates. This, in turn, makes an already challenging area – talent attraction – even more difficult.

So how can we tackle this?

Unsurprisingly, the importance of building strong relationships with members of SLT was discussed at length. TA teams must feel supported and empowered to provide candid feedback about the challenges they are facing, especially when it comes to a disparity between culture and EVP.

We’re all aware of how important data is in driving change and decision-making within the talent landscape, so gathering data on current perceptions of an organisation’s culture is a vital first step in understanding areas for improvement and where realignment is needed. Discover more impactful insights into how culture and EVP should inform your organisation’s people strategy and how to implement change here.

Pain Point 3: Skills

A topic on everyone’s lips was the challenge of skills shortages, something we’ve all been battling. We know that TA teams continue to receive more applications for each role, with a handful meeting the requirements. Anyone in TA knows the amount of time that goes into screening large volumes of applications, the amount of added pressure this creates, and its impact on productivity and output.

But what can we do about this?

Well, we know all too well that role requirements can really limit the talent available, so there is a need to reflect and critically assess role requirements, to ensure they are appropriate and not a barrier to securing brilliant talent.

The conversation delved further into this idea and positioned skills-based hiring – a very popular topic in the world of TA at the moment – as an opportunity to overcome skills shortages. Of course, there was recognition again of the roles stakeholder management and business partnering have in tackling these challenges.

Pain Point 4: Engagement

Another hot topic was candidate engagement, how do we as TA professionals keep talent engaged throughout the process and not lose out to our competitors? We’ve all been there and there is nothing worse than losing out on the perfect candidate, especially at the final stages of the recruitment process. So, what’s going on?

Disorganisation, inconsistency and lack of personalisation were the common themes discussed among attendees, with TA teams constantly trying to do more with less, recruitment often is a huge collaborative effort across multiple teams (and usually using multiple tools), so it’s no wonder things get confusing!

How can we find clarity in the chaos?

Ensuring all relevant parties are briefed before they take on any responsibilities is important, providing clear direction and boundaries for their role, and putting the candidate at the centre at every stage – Something which should be reflected at the core of any TA strategy, too. This won’t solve every challenge, of course, but with the addition of training for hiring managers on topics such as unconscious bias and interview skills, there is a real opportunity to ensure a consistent, fair and personalised experience for every candidate, regardless of who they interact with.

Pain Point 5: AI & Technology

It wouldn’t have been a TA event without the topic of AI! With more and more emphasis on the need to utilise AI, there are mixed feelings concerning this, however the sentiment from the roundtable was clear: “Prepare, not resist”, the potential for AI to transform the ways of working for TA is something exciting, especially when thinking about automating time-consuming tasks such as interview scheduling.

Though there is a transformational element to AI for businesses overall, it is important to note that there are thousands of free AI tools which individuals can use to support their productivity – watch out for an AI Directory which will be available for our members very soon!

Despite the apprehension and uncertainty regarding the uptake of AI in TA, it is evident that training is needed to upskill TA teams (and, more broadly, organisations) to better understand AI, its potential, and the legal and ethical considerations surrounding its use.

AI on the brain? Check out our AI in Recruitment Toolkit and learn more about how to save time with AI.

Pain Point 6: Legislation

With the change in government this year, the topic of ongoing legislative changes was a real area of concern for attendees due to the impact every change has on pre-existing policies and procedures.

Whether dealing with changes to labour laws or the challenge of inconsistent IR35 advice, the role of TA seems to continue getting more and more complex, this time with an added risk of falling behind and ending up non-compliant!

We all know the need to stay agile and work collaboratively within TA, but this becomes even more crucial when navigating these shifts. More and more organisations are seeking external advice and training to support them in adapting to the changing landscape – don’t get left behind!

If you’re feeling any (or all!) of these pain points, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Our training, consultancy and membership offerings tackle all these topics and so much more!

So, whether you know what you’re after, or you’re not quite sure where to start, reach out to us to discuss your options.

Don’t Miss Our Upcoming Events!

If you missed out on #Collaborate Birmingham, don’t worry—there are more opportunities to connect and learn.

#Collaborate London (15th October 2024):

For the first time ever, we’re hosting an in-person conference covering the full talent landscape—Acquisition, Management, and Development. This is made up of two events running simultaneously, a TA event and a TM/TD event!

Talent Management and Development professionals (our first!) – save your spot here

Talent Acquisition professionals – save your spot here

#Collaborate Leeds (12th November 2024):

Another great opportunity to network, gain insights, and tackle the latest TA challenges.

Save your spot here

Check out all our upcoming events here.