Insights

The power of purpose: How to attract top talent with passion

Akhilesh Verma, Strategic Talent Acquisition Team Lead - STAT - UST India & APAC.

"I have more fun and enjoy more financial success when I stop trying to get what I want and start helping other people get what they want." - Spencer Johnson, The One Minute Manager.

Now and then, I think about the things I love, and recruiting comes to mind; I am very passionate about it! I love the craft and want to share a few aspects that drive this love and passion. I have a genuine joy and love for the work involved in finding and bringing in top talent, coupled with a drive to excel and make a positive impact, inspire one to reach beyond the basic responsibilities of recruiting and embrace a genuine enthusiasm for connecting the right people with the right opportunities while contributing positively to the organization's success.

Here are a few observations and ideas regarding aspects that illustrate what passion in talent acquisition entails:

Continuous learning, adaptation, and improvement: Passionate talent acquisition professionals are committed to constantly improving our skills, staying current regarding industry trends, and adopting innovative recruitment strategies. We seek new practices and techniques, research tools, and multiple approaches to enhance recruitment. We also attend workshops, seminars, and online courses to stay updated on the latest market trends and new sourcing tools. The passionate and driven recruiters quickly adapt and integrate new methodologies into their workflow with a never-ending quest for constantly evolving and adapting to the latest hiring trends and technologies shaping the global landscape.

Exceptional candidate experience: Ardent recruiters prioritize providing an outstanding experience for candidates. We aim to create a positive and respectful environment throughout the hiring process, valuing candidates' time and ensuring clear communication and transparency. We ensure a smooth candidate journey, including prompt and personalized communication, detailed information about the company and role, offering guidance through the interview process, and providing constructive feedback, regardless of the outcome. Furthermore, great recruiters hold candidates' hands throughout the onboarding process and, after joining, have regular check-ins, thus building a deeper professional and personal bond with the candidates.

Aligning with organizational goals: Passionate and proactive talent acquisition professionals work in tandem with the organization's goals, culture, values, mission, and vision. We strive to understand the company culture, objectives, and long-term visions, aligning our recruitment efforts to find candidates who fit the current roles and align with the company's ethos. A humane talent acquisition professional conveys these aspects to candidates, highlighting the organization's unique selling points and why it's an exciting place to work, thus giving a complete overall view and aligning with the organizational values and goals.

Building genuine relationships: An accountable recruiter goes beyond the standard transactional interactions as they invest time in getting to know candidates personally and understanding their career aspirations, motivations, and long-term goals. For instance, as candidates are our eyes and ears in the industry, the recruiter might schedule informal meetings or informational interviews to build a good rapport, even if a candidate isn't an immediate fit for a role. We understand the importance of building relationships with candidates and, hiring managers and stakeholders within the organization. Strong relationships enable better collaboration and understanding of the organization's needs, resulting in more effective hiring decisions.

Measure impact and drive results: Passionate recruiters track metrics and measure their success through key performance indicators (KPIs) such as time-to-fill, quality-of-hire, retention rates, and diversity statistics and use this data to analyze the effectiveness of their strategies and make informed decisions to improve outcomes continually. This allows them to assess their strategies' effectiveness and make data-driven decisions to improve outcomes.

Innovative and creative approach: As talent acquisition professionals, we always think outside the box when it comes to sourcing and connecting with talent. For instance, using social media creatively to engage with potential candidates, host webinars or online events to showcase company culture, or implement scientific psychometric test assessments to identify top talent. Passion fuels creativity and innovation in talent acquisition and professionals who are passionate about their work often introduce new and creative approaches to sourcing, interviewing, and engaging with candidates, making the process more efficient and effective.

Resilience and adaptability: Dedicated talent acquisition professionals are resilient in facing obstacles and challenges. We adapt to changes in the market, technology, or organizational needs, leveraging our passion to overcome the barriers and find solutions. As resilient recruiters, we can also prioritize strategically and keep striving toward our long-term vision even if there are short-term challenges In our way.

A passionate, committed, and driven recruiter goes above and beyond essential responsibilities and is driven by genuine enthusiasm for connecting outstanding talent with the right opportunities while positively impacting both candidates and the organization. We portray strength, durability, and a never-give-up mindset in the face of challenges, adapting to changing market conditions, evolving candidate expectations, and fluctuations in hiring needs without losing enthusiasm and passion for finding the best talent.

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