Where does top talent hide in a recession?

It's a great question, and one which many employers are currently asking.  The best talent is rarely out of work , and is almost always not proactively looking for a job, so how can you tap into the best talent for your business?  This video gives great insights and tips for sourcing top talent:

Key points from the video are summarised below:

1.  Your Own Staff
Never overlook your internal team, grow your talent inhouse and promote from within where possible.  Leverage the networks of your teams and colleagues you work with, as they may know someone you could hire that would be perfect for your business.

2.  Become well Connected and Actively Network
Top candidates will not usually be actively looking for work, and will almost always be fully employed, even in a recession.  Making use of online networks, industry related events and your own contacts to seek out the best talent, this is always a great strategy.

3.  Be Proactive
Recruitment shouldn't be a last minute thought when a vacancy arises, develop relationships within your industry and become an Employer of Choice, build your talent pool all the time so that you can leverage a strong network when the need arises to hire.  Offer internships and get to know the local graduate careers officers for young talent in your profession.  Always seek out potential hires before the need arises.  Recruitment can take time; securing the best talent and quickly can save you a lot of money and time.

4.  Work with a professional only when you need it
Make time to brief your recruitment partner well and take ownership of the process.  Identify exactly what you are looking for and hold the recrutiment company accountable for quality and retention.  An outside perspective, and an expert in seeking out the top talent in your industry is often important, especially for business critical positions.  It is vital to work with a partner that will understand your business, your teams and your company culture, often the cultural fit is most important, then skills, capabilities and experience follow. 

Top talent is out there - FACT! However, finding the right people, attracting them to your business and keeping them is all about having a strategy for recruitment and retention of the best your industry has to offer.