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Re-imagining Recruitment
#2 - Skills, frills and glockenspiels
Building on discussions at the ERF’s TalentCon events in Dublin and Cork, Tom Hadley takes stock of the changing role and remit of the recruitment profession
The recruitment scene is being shaken up like never before. And these pumping new vibes are being energised by a radical remix of the skills and service levels underpinning the profession. My previous blog looked at how recruitment is moving from a career of chance to a career of choice; let’s now hone-in on how the skills agenda can add tempo to this metamorphosis.
According to the World Economic Forum, 1 billion people will need to upskill and reskill in the next decade, almost one third of all jobs worldwide. And recent LinkedIn data shows that the skills that employees need for a given position have shifted by around 25% since 2015 and by 2027 that number is expected to double. So, recruitment is not alone when it comes to seismic shifts on the skills arena. And this creates a unique opportunity to add new ‘frills’ to an already proud and pulsating profession.
Looking ahead, the focus is on how we can make the most of this perception and professionalisation reboot. Here are five factors that will drive future progress on the skills and frills agenda:
- Understanding evolving skills needs- Clarity on what the new skill needs for recruiters actually look like is the vital starting point. Speaking at the TalentCon gathering in Cork, LinkedIn’s Caitriona Lannen O’Brien flagged communication, relationship-building, adaptability and problem-solving as the most salient skills on the song list. These are often referred to as ‘soft-skills’. But there is increasing recognition that the so-called soft stuff is now the business-critical stuff. The priority going forward will be to regularly review, articulate and nurture these new skills; national federations and professional institutes will continue to take centre-stage here.
- Embedding a genuine learning culture– In addition to shared goals and values, a key characteristic of a winning team and organisation is ‘learning-centricity’. Engaging and developing staff, and telling them why what they do matters (and how honing new skills will help them and the business) are all cultural pillars of a positive workplace culture. These were all big themes raised by best-selling author and Chief People Officer at First Bus Kevin Green in Cork. People are motivated by purpose and autonomy; they are also motivated by mastery. Which is why embedding a genuine learning culture makes absolute sense.
- Creating space for progression and value creation -Honing new skills is paramount; but this means carving out space and time for personal development. Which loops us back into the debate around using generative AI to offload repetitive, administrative tasks in order to ringfence more time for ‘human-touch’ and added-value activities - including personal development and upskilling. From a leadership perspective, investing in your people and championing internal progression shows that you care; it is a test of empathetic leadership. In the words of author and keynote-speaker Pellegrino Riccardi: “Yes, we need for a skills-first approach; but we also need a ‘love-first’ approach”. This was a resounding and heartfelt message from the TalentCon event in Dublin.
- Mapping clear progression routes– Establishing and communicating clear career pathways is the biggest game-changer; this will create the upskilling tipping-point. In Ireland, huge progress has been made on industry qualifications, including the Recruitment Executive Apprenticeship and a BA (Hons) in Recruitment Practice as well as a suite of leadership programmes and other accreditations. ERF’s ongoing collaboration with Skillnet Ireland will be at the forefront of ensure that current and future generations of recruitment professionals are equipped with the skills they need to progress and thrive within a fast-changing recruitment landscape.
- Making some noise– One of the loudest instruments I ever encountered is the glockenspiel – a percussion instrument consisting of steel bars arranged in a keyboard layout. It’s a real racket! And my thinking is that we need a metaphoric global glockenspiel to set the tone as we dance our way into a new era for the recruitment profession. Because one way to continue building momentum around the great recruitment ‘skills refit’ is to get out there and make some noise about it! Representative federations, professional institutes, and influential global bodies like the World Employment Confederation (WEC) will once again be leading the way here.
In setting the tone for the TalentCon event in Cork, ERF Chief Executive Geraldine King underlined the recruitment profession’s role as a ‘knowledge hub’ on all labour market and employment-related matters. This has become a recurring and rousing refrain. And continuing to up the ante on industry-wide up-skilling - despite a volatile and uncertain external landscape - will amplify this message in Ireland and across all corners of the globe. In the words of the award-winning artist and film director Jordan Hoechlin: “It never gets easier, you just get better”.
ERF BLOG by
Tom Hadley is an independent workforce and campaigns consultant, working with the International Labour Organization (ILO) as well as with recruitment firms and business leaders across the world. He also delivers bespoke communication training and keynote talks on the future of work. Tom is one of the judges of this year’s ERF Awards.
