What will be the top talent trends in the plastics workplace in 2015?
As the plastics director with Direct Recruiters, Inc., I see a number of talent trends taking shape now and evolving over the next year. Companies are realizing that they need to incorporate a variety of talent acquisition and retention strategies to stay competitive. In 2015, top performers and executive talent will be highly competitive and therefore, great candidates will find themselves in positions of strength.
From my perspective, these are the 5 talent trends to watch over the next year:
Counteroffers on the rise
Hiring managers are making every attempt to hold on to their top talent. That means the amount of counteroffers are on the rise. Hiring managers are making every effort to entice employees so that they reconsider leaving the company. Hiring managers say that it's much more cost-effective to make a counteroffer than to bring aboard a new hire and properly train them. However, an increasing number of employees are turning down counteroffers. Job candidates have found themselves in the best job market in years. Therefore, the power has shifted and high performing employees are in control.
Internships prove beneficial
More and more plastics companies are moving towards creating internship programs at the college level. They consider it a year-round recruiting tool which means having an ongoing pipeline of future talent especially in engineering. In addition, interns are an inexpensive resource while at the same time are some of the most highly motivated members of the workforce. Internships.com allows a company to post a profile free of charge. This way, a company gets exposure to top colleges and candidates without breaking their budget.
Succession planning will become a priority
Succession planning is on the minds of companies as more baby boomers start to retire. The concern is that there's no one to pick up where they left off. In addition, the loss of boomers is creating a leadership shortage.
According to USA Today, one way organizations will succession plan is to pay retirees for their help and expertise to train and mentor up and comers. These seasoned workers have experience and a tremendous amount of knowledge to share.
Hiring more military veterans
As cited in several Plastics News articles in 2013 and 2014, many plastics companies are already on a mission to find, hire, train and accommodate U.S. military veterans who possess the skills they look for including leadership, performance under pressure, teamwork, respect for procedures, and integrity. In 2015, we'll see more organizations pledging to help veterans make the transition from military life to a civilian workforce.
Video interviews will become more popular
The use of remote face-to-face interactions such as video interviewing and Skype is on the rise. Advanced technology is giving hiring managers a way to review candidates and their personalities prior to meeting them in person. In addition, it can help shorten the interview process often affected by travel, schedules, vacations, etc. In addition, new hires meet the team before they even step in the office.
David Peterson is a managing partner and the director of DRI's Plastics division.