The editors of Harvard Business Review recently defined a fad as a term that has become so broadly used as to be almost meaningless. While we think of fads as a social phenomenon, we’ve all heard (and maybe used) such terms in the workplace. These bon mots of the business world include “value proposition,” “employer of choice” and “doing more with less.” For recruiters, however, I think the most prevalent fad in our profession is the also the least recognized. It’s the term “talent” as in that mighty phrase “The War for Talent.”
What makes talent a fad? Consider the following definitions that are attached to the term by various recruiters, hiring managers, pundits and HR executives:
There are almost certainly a dozen or more other possible definitions of the term, all of which make the point: talent has become a term that is so broadly used (and interpreted) as to be almost meaningless. In short, talent is a fad.
Should We Care?
Does the fact that talent is a fad mean we should abandon the term? Does its decline into that sad state mean that we should no longer be in the business of talent acquisition? Of course not. Recognizing talent as a fad doesn’t alter our mission as recruiters. It doesn’t change the substance of what we do, but it should give us pause. Why is that? Because fads are not always benign.
Fads, in fact, can be very disruptive. Business fads, in particular, are used so frequently and in so many different contexts by so many different people with so many different agendas that they lose the ability to convey any definitive information. They become ambiguous. And that lack of clarity and precision, in turn, leads to miscommunication and misunderstanding in the workplace.
In our case, when there is no clear and universally accepted definition of talent within an organization, we recruiters are set up to be chumps. We think we are sourcing the kind of individuals our employers or clients will value, but we may be wrong or, worse, we may be right, but have the rules changed on us after the fact so we are made to look wrong. You’ll know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever identified the perfect candidate for some hiring manager’s vacancy based on what’s stated in the requisition, only to have the hiring manager then tell you that the candidate is totally off the mark. That’s the perniciousness of a fad at work.
So, What Should You Do?
I recommend that you start out 2009 with a definitional exercise. Pull together a meeting of the recruiting team and at least the key thought leaders among the line managers in your organization and hammer out what talent means in your culture. Transform the term from a fad to a standard.
Achieving that objective will, in all likelihood, take more than a little patience, diplomacy and determination, but it is possible. At the outset, there will probably be a wide array of different views and even some grandstanding among those in the meeting. It’s important, however, to let that happen as everyone needs to feel as though they’ve had their say.
Then, point out the dysfunctional aspects of competing definitions. When what talent means is ambiguous in an organization, it takes longer and costs more to fill its openings. Worse, it increases the likelihood of a person-job mismatch and thus threatens the ability of line managers to accomplish their goals.
Finally, move the group toward consensus. Push them to develop a document that establishes a standard for talent in your organization. That document should:
We all think we know what talent is and, for that reason, it’s sometimes hard to believe that others may have a different view of the term. Because talent is a fad, however, such differences of opinion are not only possible; they’re probable. The resulting ambiguity undermines our ability to do our jobs well and to be recognized when we have. So, use the start of a new year to protect yourself and set yourself up for success: transform talent from a meaningless fad to a powerful standard in your organization.
Thanks for reading,
Peter
P.S. Start the Year Off on the Right Note … Tell a Friend About WEDDLE’s Newsletter.
This Issue’s Sponsor: Work Strong
This issue of WEDDLE’s newsletter is brought to you through the generous support of Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System, Peter Weddle’s new book on how, when, where and with whom you can achieve career success in the 21st Century.
Work Strong is a career book with muscle and soul.
Designed specifically for the challenging workplace of the 21st Century:
This book not only tells you what to do for career success, but when, where and how to do it.
Career Fitness includes both a revolutionary philosophy of work and a regimen of daily, weekly and monthly activities that empower you to apply that philosophy to your career.
Using physical fitness as a metaphor, it introduces an approach to career self-management that is appropriate for everyone from senior executives and seasoned professionals to recent graduates and those who are reentering the workforce after an extended absence.
This book helps you tap both sides of your brain in learning how to build a healthy career.
It encourages you to use your reasoning ability on the left side of your brain by presenting all of the information you need to Work Strong in your career. That’s The Career Fitness System.
It also encourages you to use your creative ability on the right side of your brain by presenting a fictional account of what it would be like to Work Strong. That’s The Diary of a Career Activist.
In today’s world of work, you have only two choices: you can be the master of your career or you can be its victim. Get the tools you need to take charge of the one-third or more of your life you spend at work. Get Work Strong today! You’ll increase the paycheck and the satisfaction you bring home from work!
But don’t forget about others. Get Work Strong for yourself and for your spouse, your sons or daughters and even for your mother and father. Everyone deserves to Work Strong. To place your order, call WEDDLE’s at 317.598.9768 or click here. Don’t delay. Get Work Strong right away!
Section Two: Site News You Can Use
WEDDLE’s Research, a division of WEDDLE’s LLC, released a preliminary data set from its upcoming 2009 Recruiting Excellence Survey which will be published in January 2009. (For pricing and to order the report, please call WEDDLE’s at 317.598.9768.) This one-of-a-kind report examines both sides of the job market; it explores which strategies and tactics recruiters prefer and what job seekers are doing to find a new or better job. Today’s environment, in particular, creates a number of potential pitfalls for recruiters. With so many applicants flooding into our organizations, it would be easy to let bad habits creep into our day-to-day operations. So, we asked job seekers What is the single worst thing that has happened to you in a job search?. Here’s what they told us:
How can almost one-in-two applicants feel ignored when most of the recruiters I speak with affirm that they use the auto-responder in their ATS to acknowledge every resume? I think there are at least two factors at work here:
Are you looking for an inspirational and informative speaker for an upcoming corporate meeting? Consider WEDDLE’s publisher and CEO, Peter Weddle. One of the most highly rated speakers at recruiting conferences, association conventions and company retreats, he offers a unique combination of storytelling and wisdom that is sure to motivate and educate your audience. Whether it’s a gathering of your recruiting team, the entire HR Department, your sales force or line managers, Peter will leave every participant better prepared for the challenges of 2009 and fired up about meeting them. For more information, please call Peter directly at 203.964.1888.
WEDDLE’s has released a powerful new tool for recruiters. Called Finding Needles in a Haystack, it’s the first comprehensive listing of keywords for successfully searching resume databases online and off. The book provides thousands of search terms and phrases for the:
If you’re not getting the yield you need from job board resume databases, data mining or even your own resume management system, this is the reference book for you. In fact, sourcing guru Shally Steckerl described this book as “A rare and uniquely useful reference guide for recruiters!” It doesn’t get any better than that! To order your copy, please call WEDDLE’s at 317.598.9768 or click here. Get Finding Needles in a Haystack today!
WEDDLE’s is offering a range of services to help you build your employment brand, develop relationships with top talent and maintain your professional edge. They include:
To Build Your Employment Brand & Develop Relationships with Top Talent
To Maintain Your Professional Edge
WEDDLE’s Private Training Programs-Attending these courses in the privacy of your own facility
For more information, please call WEDDLE’s at 317.598.9768. We’ll partner with you to help you and your organization achieve your goals and the success you seek in 2009.
WEDDLE’s also offers a number of other publications for recruiters seeking to win the War for the Best Talent and achieve a satisfying and rewarding career. They include:
So make sure you’re at the top of your game, get your WEDDLE’s books today. Click here or call WEDDLE’s at 317.598.9768.
Section Three: Site Profiles
Site Spotlite … from the pages of WEDDLE’s 2007/8 Guides and Directories
There are 40,000 job boards now in operation in North America and an equal number operating elsewhere around the world. The key to recruiting top talent online, therefore, is knowing where to find and how to select the best sites for each of your requirements. WEDDLE’s 2007/8 Guide identifies 350 of the top sites worldwide and provides the information you need to determine which job boards will deliver the optimum yield for you. For example:
CollegeRecruiter.com
http://www.collegerecruiter.com
Post full time jobs: Yes
Post part time, contract or consulting jobs: Yes-All
Distribution of jobs: National-USA
Fee to post a job: $125/posting
Posting period: 60 days
Can posting be linked to your site: Yes
Resume database: No
Number of resumes: N/A
Source of resumes: N/A
Top occupations among visitors: Engineering, Sales & Marketing, Information Systems
Other services for employers: Automated resume agent, Banner advertising, Status reports
Member, International Association of Employment Web Sites: Yes
Get Work Strong Today!
This issue of WEDDLE’s newsletter is brought to you through the generous support of Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System, Peter Weddle’s new book on how, when, where and with whom you can achieve career success in the 21st Century.
Work Strong is a career book with muscle and soul.
Designed specifically for the challenging workplace of the 21st Century:
This book not only tells you what to do for career success, but when, where and how to do it.
Career Fitness includes both a revolutionary philosophy of work and a regimen of daily, weekly and monthly activities that empower you to apply that philosophy to your career.
Using physical fitness as a metaphor, it introduces an approach to career self-management that is appropriate for everyone from senior executives and seasoned professionals to recent graduates and those who are reentering the workforce after an extended absence.
This book helps you tap both sides of your brain in learning how to build a healthy career.
It encourages you to use your reasoning ability on the left side of your brain by presenting all of the information you need to Work Strong in your career. That’s The Career Fitness System.
It also encourages you to use your creative ability on the right side of your brain by presenting a fictional account of what it would be like to Work Strong. That’s The Diary of a Career Activist.
In today’s world of work, you have only two choices: you can be the master of your career or you can be its victim. Get the tools you need to take charge of the one-third or more of your life you spend at work. Get Work Strong today! You’ll increase the paycheck and the satisfaction you bring home from work!
But don’t forget about others. Get Work Strong for yourself and for your spouse, your sons or daughters and even for your mother and father. Everyone deserves to Work Strong. To place your order, call WEDDLE’s at 317.598.9768 or click here. Don’t delay. Get Work Strong right away!