Game changers in recruiting and the workforce in 2012 and beyond — Part 2

Posted by: Matt Rivera

In the first part of this series, taken from our latest e-book, “Three Game-Changing Trends in Recruiting and Workforce Management,” technology was a key trend. The next trend is related to how people will work in the future.

Game Changer #2: Virtual, Migratory, and Transient Workers

With more technology and younger workers, it’s not a stretch to think that many will prefer to move, work virtually, or simply not want to be tied down to one company or one industry.

Making your company attractive to all kinds of workers is going to be a key competitive differentiator in the future. The car you drive today is probably not your father’s Oldsmobile, and your HR department is not your father’s personnel department. (Besides, according to the movie character Dirty Harry, “Personnel? That’s for idiots!”) Expect the same when it comes to the work styles and attitudes of your employees — and your HR department — in the future.

This trend could impact your business’s:

• Engagement. HR will be challenged to know where all these workers are, what they are doing, and how they are doing. Communication and building a strong culture are both part of engagement.
• Employment brand. As noted in part one, good people refer other good people. In the future, your employment brand will be harder to control and shape. It will largely be shaped by the people who work for you in an increasing number of ways. As such, it will be an important part of your ability to attract new talent.

The workforce of the future will not only be diverse as we understand it today, but it will function, communicate, collaborate, and come and go in diverse ways as well. Here are a few strategies to consider:

Find out your Net Promoter Score. As you are looking at your employee and potential employee populations, find out what they really think about your company. Would they refer someone to work at your company? That’s the basis of the Net Promoter Score. It’s basically a measure of whether someone would put their reputation on the line to promote the reputation of your company.

Mobility and connectivity. One of the biggest challenges in the future is going to be keeping the workforce connected. Before you open the flood gates with the newest mobile application, or open a bunch of virtual offices, make sure you have a plan for how workers will stay connected to your company.

For more insight, information (including all three game-changing trends), and actions to take, download the complete e-book.