Hiring for Today Is Easy - Hiring for What’s Next Is Smarter
- TalentRemedy
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
By Melissa Front
It’s an ongoing conundrum for many hiring managers - hire someone to fill an immediate need or hire someone for a future need? What if you don’t know what the future need will be? What do you do? Hire for both!
In today’s ever-changing world, companies are trying to position themselves in a way that they can handle today’s challenges and be ready for what’s to come. While there will always be specialized roles, many roles have shifted to more of a generalist profile in which individuals possess a broad set of skills.
In support of this trend, many companies are focusing on general skills and an individual’s potential rather than specific skills and abilities. Building a dynamic talent bench and hiring for potential enables organizations to use their talented teams to drive future growth.
How do you hire for potential?
To determine an individual’s potential, you first need to understand their skills and capabilities. Shifting to a skills-based hiring approach is one way to evaluate an individual’s potential. In addition, skills-based hiring is an effective way to build your bench today and be ready for roles that don’t exist yet.
Traditionally, organizations hire individuals based on experience, education, etc. While experience and education are important factors to consider as part of the hiring process, shifting the focus and prioritizing an individual’s skills, abilities, and eagerness to learn will enable companies to identify an individual’s potential and how they might contribute to the organization.
Here are 3 steps to follow when hiring for potential:
Analyze the Role
Identify the key skills needed to be effective in the role. Understanding the skills that are truly necessary in a position will enable companies to hire individuals who possess these skills and who will be able to adapt moving forward.
Hire Holistically
It is imperative that companies ready themselves for the future and move beyond traditional hiring practices. Prioritize skills that are transferrable and seek individuals who enjoy tackling new challenges.
Consider other qualities such as an individual’s personal values and culture fit in order to determine whether the individual will align with the organization’s mission, vision, and values. Evaluating the individual for what they can do along with their true capabilities will help clarify their potential and whether it aligns with a company’s business needs.
Foster Internal Growth
Identify your high potential employees and map out clear steps for their career development. Invest in your team by offering mentorship and ongoing training.
In addition to building your bench and readying your organization for future needs, upskilling will increase employee engagement and foster a continuous learning culture.
Final Thoughts
As we all know, change is a constant. According to World Economic Forum, “Skills-based means building for agility.”
By focusing on an individual’s skills and potential, companies will be positioning themselves to embrace the future with an agile and trainable talent bench. By prioritizing an individual’s potential, companies may also discover some hidden gems.
Strategically hiring for today enables companies to build for the future.
As we move into the future with new roles yet to be created, will your team possess the skills and be ready to adapt and embrace new challenges?
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