I was on holiday for much of the last ten days. Time to unwind for sure, but also some time to happily doom-scroll on LinkedIn. And there it was, the bold claim: “Recruitment is broken.”

I suppose if you’ve been around for even half as much time as me, you’ve seen this tactic before—make an audacious statement to grab attention, then pivot to unrelated information about your business, and finally assert that only you have seen the light, and have the solution to all of Recruitment’s woes. You are the hero that everyone's been waiting for.

In reality, you’re not the Messiah, you’re a very naughty boy*.

This is classic sales gumpf dressed up in posh, well-funded clothes. Extrapolate a problem, tell the world you can solve it, and pick up the metaphorical phone to sell-up your market share. The problem with this approach is that it’s painfully transparent and likely to fade away in the medium term. After all, where do you go after you've already self-proclaimed that you are, in fact, the saviour of the universe?

So, Is Recruitment Broken?

Let’s set aside the marketing & sales malarky and address the question: Is recruitment broken? I’d argue that it isn’t. However, the landscape is changing rapidly.

What’s Changing?

1. Technological Advancements: AI and automation are revolutionising the recruitment process, providing tools that streamline tasks, enhance candidate experience, and improve decision-making. These innovations are augmenting recruiters’ capabilities, not replacing them.

2. The Evolving Expectations of talented people: Today’s talent pool values flexibility, inclusivity, and purpose. Recruiters are responding by adopting inclusive hiring practices, offering remote work opportunities, and ensuring roles align with the organisation’s mission and values.

3. Shifting Business Needs: As companies undergo digital transformation and face global challenges, there’s a growing need for specialised skills and agile talent strategies. Talent Acquisition as a discipline is pivotal in identifying these needs and sourcing the right talent to drive business success.

Recruiters are Hard at Work Finding Solutions

TA professionals, let’s call them rockstars, because you know you are, are working diligently to find solutions to these evolving challenges. From utilising data analytics for better insights to fostering continuous learning and development, recruiters are actively innovating and adapting.

One size doesn’t fit all, probably

The solutions to the challenges of the business of recruitment are very unlikely to be singular. The complexity of the modern job market demands a multifaceted approach, tailored strategies that address industry-specific needs, company culture, and individual candidate preferences are crucial for successful talent acquisition. It probably needs a matrix of partners, an understanding of what each offers, and an ability to make sure that each plays nicely, to build a solution that fits your exact need. TA as contract/project manager??

The Strength of Community

It takes a community to stay ahead of change, and this is one of real, powerful, advantages of talent acquisition as a discipline. Recruiters, HR professionals, and industry experts collaborate, share knowledge, and support each other. This sense of community is invaluable in navigating trends and finding collective solutions.

That’s why Tonic has been committed to serving the wider community from day one. By getting involved, we all benefit. Understanding business needs and contributing to the success of the wider operation is how talent acquisition moves forward with confidence and with continued business support.

So Is Recruitment Broken?

You might as well say business is broken. Recruitment isn’t broken, but it is changing. And during this period of transformation, we all need each other to provide support while the dust settles. By working together and embracing the changes, we can ensure that talent acquisition continues to thrive.

Recruitment isn’t broken; it’s evolving. And in this evolution, collaboration and community will be our greatest strengths.

One last thing. Change isn’t a problem. It's just change. And wouldn't work be dull if every day was identical?

* with thanks to Monty & Brian