Everyone is so focused on recruiting talent today.

The conversation is about skills shortages and hiring tactics. Unfortunately, this is as true of recruitment companies themselves as it is of employers generally.

But the truth is that focusing on recruitment as your number one priority is an error.

What we really need to do is re-recruit our key current staff.

And we need to do it now.

This is a conversation all agency recruitment leaders should have for themselves now. And all recruiters should have with their clients now!

The reason for this should be evident to all. Current staff are restless. Covid unsettled everyone and prompted many to re-evaluate what’s important to them in a job and a career. We hear negative news on the economy, war, and cost of living. People are unsettled. Worried. Very tired. Head-hunters are wooing and seducing, and it’s happening every day. Salary offers to move are growing ever larger.

Now is not the time to take anything for granted concerning your current team.

Some companies are making progress in this area, but most really need to re-engage with crucial current staff. Make no assumptions. What is their state of mind? Are they happy with their role, trajectory, work conditions, colleagues, company ethos, salaries, benefits, and work-from-home arrangements? Just for starters.

I’m suggesting a lot more than a mundane performance review. I’m talking about a detailed conversation about values, development, growth, their ultimate career destination, and how the company is progressing along a path that will help them achieve their goals.

Almost weekly, one of my clients tells me in a shocked voice that one of their key people has resigned, and it’s such a huge surprise and was not expected.

Well, expect it!

Now is the time to re-recruit all your current people back into the fold and make sure they are with you on the next stage of your company journey.

Bring them into the tent.

Listen and be slow to understand.

Address any concerns and be authentic about it.

Then focus on recruiting outsiders.

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Now is the time to ‘flex your BD muscle”.

The market will turn, might be doing that now. Is your team match fit to deal with that

Sign up to the Savage Recruitment Academy for this key masterclass and much more

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