Future-Proof Your Workforce: Build a Talent Pipeline

Your business needs are ever evolving, driven by changes in technology, demand, new laws and regulations, and new opportunities. Your workforce needs to evolve, too. That’s why it is important to build a talent pipeline by optimizing talent acquisition and increasing employee retention and development.

A talent pipeline strategy involves analyzing current and future skill needs, business growth potential, and areas with high turnover rates. It plans for professional growth and leadership development of existing employees and develops clear roles to help find new team members.

Assessing your talent pipeline needs
As the last few years have proven, accurately predicting what will happen in the next 6 months, let alone a year or two down the road, is likely impossible. But assessing trends in technology and business growth potential in addition to your current needs can help inform your development of a talent pipeline.

For instance, AI is suddenly impacting all aspects of marketing and communications, and it is only expected to grow dramatically. When developing your talent pipeline strategy consider these questions: How will computer generated content, videos, audio, and graphics affect your staffing needs? What skills will you be seeking and how will that affect workflows? Will you need additional staff to oversee new processes? Will your needs be short-term or long-term?

Nurturing and growing existing talent

Now consider whether you need an infusion of fresh talent or to upskill your current team. Tapping into your team’s potential should be a cornerstone of your talent pipeline strategy. Helping them achieve their personal career goals can be a cost-effective way to maintain your company’s competitive edge. In its Future of Jobs Report 2020, the World Economic Forum reported that by 2025, half of all workers would need reskilling. In addition, it found that “an average of 66% of employers surveyed expect to get a return on investment in upskilling and reskilling within one year.”

Professional development is one of the best ways to improve job satisfaction, increase engagement and motivation for your employees, and reduce turnover rates.  Training that is job-specific and relevant has the most impact. A good talent pipeline strategy plans time for employees to not only learn new skills but to practice them as well.

Attracting new talent
Sometimes you need a new skill set instantly and will need to hire externally. But finding new staff can be a costly and time-intensive process. The hiring process (advertising, reviewing applications, coordinating interviews with management and candidates, interviewing, assessing skills, checking references, hiring, and onboarding) takes on average about a month to six weeks, according to Get Hired on LinkedIn.

Your talent pipeline strategy should include detailed descriptions of the roles you will need filled and how they fit into your organization. A comprehensive talent pipeline plan can lessen the urgency to find qualified candidates when the need arises.

Talent pipeline partners

Establishing a relationship with a staffing agency is a great way to build a talent pipeline in less time and with less hassle. Candidates have already been carefully screened and their skills assessed. As one of the best staffing agencies in southcentral Pennsylvania, TriStarr focuses on matching candidates with employers’ needs and company culture to ensure a good fit.  Temporary staffing fulfills immediate needs and can also provide skilled coverage while your existing talent is undertaking training and professional development. Temp-to-hire solutions have the advantage of allowing you to evaluate a candidate’s skills and work ethic before committing to a permanent hire. In addition, a staffing agency can help recruit talent directly, expediting the hiring process.

TriStarr can help you build your talent pipeline

Since 1989, TriStarr has been connecting good people with top employers in southcentral Pennsylvania. We help employers retain top talent by starting off with the right match. Our experience and attention to detail enable us to find top candidates to fit our clients’ needs and company culture. And we back it up with our Good People Guarantee.

TriStarr is a full-service staffing, recruiting, and HR consulting agency based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Our services include temp, temp-to-hire, permanent staffing, and supplemental HR services. Learn more by contacting our team of hiring experts  online or by calling 717-560-2111.