This is for all our HR and Recruiting friends! How many of us have sat in a staffing meeting and heard a title that was completely new to us. Or the manager references a requirement for a role that means nothing to us. We have all been there. We are coaches and advisors to our business, but we are not in the weeds with them.
We can’t keep up on all the trends in the industry, each department, each function, etc as well as everything for our own roles and teams. But because we are strategic partners to the business, we need to try to stay educated on the key new roles or functions that are out there that might be beneficial for our teams. Not only will that help us in the room, but it can also help us be proactive in asking about something that our current company doesn’t do!
So let’s talk about how we can stay on top of all these new trends.
- Having Strong Relationships with Hiring Managers: Recruiters often work closely with hiring managers and team leads to understand the specific needs of a new role. This includes discussing the key responsibilities, required skills, and desired qualifications. But, we should also be meeting with managers when they are not hiring. Not only does this give you insight into the team (and how those new hires are doing) but also allows you to be a partner to the manager and learn about what is going on in their world.
- Research the Competition: Everyone remember when companies like Google or other “cool” companies were going wacky with titles (like Coding Ninja)? How many of us where then getting the request for our managers to come up with more creative titles?! Sure that was a fun time (was it?) but it showed us the influence our competitors had in the job market. So follow the companies that are either your business or talent competitors. What roles are they hiring for? Who have the recently hired and what skills did they have? Use those research skills to keep an eye on others, not just for sourcing, and you will learn a lot about the market.
- Know Your Company’s Business Strategy and Goals: Recruiters & HR Partners need to stay informed about their company’s overall business strategy and goals. This knowledge helps us anticipate future hiring needs and identify potential new roles that may arise as the company evolves. Talk to department heads to understand their long-term plans and how they may impact staffing requirements. You can also use that time to ask about if there is any internal talent that is on the move (which will create a backfill need!).
- We all need to be business and people savvy. Stay ahead of trends or being knowledgable about our industries (outside of our functions) are what makes us strong partners.
If you need some additional ideas, Karen and Dan have both been in your shoes. We specifically work with HR professionals and Recruiters to help you grow in your careers as well. And being ahead of these trends is a great way to do that!