Talent Intelligence

Hey, HR enthusiasts! 👋 

Mariam Mushtaq here from HR Brain Pickings, bringing you another exciting dive into the evolving world of HR. 😊 

But before we start 👇️ 

ICYMI: I want to invite you all to our upcoming virtual conference, "The Shape of Work: AI x HR Playbook for 2024", where the future of work takes center stage. 🚀

Listen and interact with industry leaders and innovators discuss the profound impacts of AI on HR practices. 🙌 

More details and speakers will be announced soon, until then book your slot! 👉️ REGISTER HERE 👈️ 

In This Edition:

I recently read a whitepaper on Talent Intelligence. So today, let’s unravel the complexities and incredible potential of Talent Intelligence (TI).

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How has Talent Management Evolved?

Traditionally, a recruiter and a hiring manager might sit down together, draft a job description, set a budget, and then go out and try to fill the role. Simple right? 🤔 

As we dive deeper into the future of work, we're seeing a bunch of new challenges reshaping how we handle talent management. This shift means we really need to think about how we can best adapt to changing employee preferences. 🧑‍💼 

Consequently, there are now a few additional key questions we need to tackle during the hiring process ⬇️ 

  • Equity and Diversity: How do we make sure our hiring process is not only fair but also effectively captures a diverse range of candidates from both within and outside the company?

  • Dynamic Role Requirements: As job roles are continually evolving, how can we ensure that our job titles and descriptions keep pace with the actual needs of the business?

  • Alternative Work Arrangements: How do we determine if a role should be filled by a traditional employee, or could it perhaps be better suited to gig workers, project-based roles, or other flexible work arrangements?

This is…. a lot. How is a recruiter or even a team of recruiters supposed to identify such potential candidates?

These questions suggest that it's time to move beyond traditional methods. By adopting a more dynamic, data-driven Talent Intelligence approach, we can enhance how we support and align the hiring process with the rapid changes and demands of our business environment.

TODAY I LEARNED: Purple Squirrel 🐿️ 

In case you are not already aware (like me 😭), a purple squirrel is what we call a candidate who perfectly fits a job's requirements across the board — from education, skills, and experience, right down to fitting perfectly with the company culture.

It’s a bit of a myth because this perfect match is incredibly rare, almost as rare as spotting an actual purple squirrel in the wild!

Takeaway - So when a job description seems to be looking for one, it means the criteria might be a tad too optimistic or specific.

What disappears as soon as you say its name? 🫥 

This intriguing question comes straight from Trivia's newest game format - Riddles, a mind-tickling, fun-filled, absorbing game that your teammates are going to love!  

Games are a fantastic tool for employee engagement, and Trivia offers quick, enjoyable games and features to boost team spirit. "Riddles" is our latest innovation, a rapid-fire quiz that twists words into puzzles so intricate they could baffle the keenest minds. 🧠 

Think your team is up for the challenge?

Beyond People Analytics: Enter Talent Intelligence

I’ll be honest—it’s not the simplest concept to grasp (well, at least for me). And while we might not need a Talent Intelligence team ready by tomorrow, it’s crucial we get to grips with this concept to stay ahead of the curve. 🤓 

Many companies begin by developing a global skills taxonomy, hoping it will simplify recruitment, career progression, and succession planning. They aim to automate decision-making by mapping each job to specific skills. However, anyone in recruiting knows this isn't as straightforward as it sounds.  

That's where talent intelligence steps in. Talent intelligence teams are crucial; they not only manage internal data but also keep tabs on market trends. These teams use this comprehensive data across HR functions like recruiting, training, compliance, and pay.

They also benchmark this information against industry standards to ensure the company stays competitive and relevant.  

Real-Life Impact of TI Teams

1️⃣ Consider the head of talent intelligence at Amazon, who identifies where to find top talent and which roles are becoming obsolete. He collaborates with internal teams to align training and career development, providing critical input for workforce planning and financial forecasting.

His work is vital, especially for roles dependent on accurate scenario planning like the CFO, showcasing how TI teams are crucial to strategic decision-making.

2️⃣ At BNY Mellon, the talent intelligence leader focuses on enhancing the skills and productivity of IT and tech operations. By establishing "capability communities" among product managers, analysts, and project managers, he facilitates discussions on needed skills, tools, and innovations.

This collaborative effort uses talent data to integrate new processes and technologies, helping each community leader to craft a roadmap for ongoing growth and improvement.

3️⃣ Ericsson has developed an end-to-end strategy for 5G and other technologies, forming teams that pinpoint essential skills and create detailed taxonomies.

These groups also integrate plans for internal mobility, training, and credentials, ensuring all employees advance their capabilities in these cutting-edge areas.

If you want to learn more about how to build a Talent Intelligence team and where to start → read Josh Bersin’s recent whitepaper on TI. 

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Today’s HR Reads

Bonus Resource: The Feel-Good AI Tools List

Why jump into work when you can dance into it with AI that understands your vibe? Check out the tools that harmonize with your productivity beat! 🎶

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That’s it for today!

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