Companies today are not about to settle for mediocrity. Companies, both MNCs and local SMEs, want to​ ​attract​ ​and​ ​employ​ ​the​ ​cream​ ​of​ ​the​ ​crop.​ ​The​ ​fight​ ​for​ ​top​ ​talent​ ​is​ ​intense                             

The​ ​Battle​ ​for​ ​Talent







According to the latest annual report from LinkedIn, companies across the Asia-Pacific region are facing stiff competition in attracting the best talent.

Source: Economic Development Board (EDB), Singapore,​ ​2015

Based on EDB’s findings, 58% of companies in Southeast Asia face the challenge of recruitment competition. On a global scale, 46% of the companies face the same issue. Companies identify unattractive remuneration package, lack of interest in the company or industry, and location as the top reasons why candidates turn down job offers. It is thus getting tougher to hire not just the best talent, but​ ​the​ ​ones​ ​that​ ​accept​ ​your​ ​terms.

The​ ​New​ ​Wave​ ​of​ ​Talents

In this age that is predominantly populated by the millennials, companies must brand themselves as THE company where this new generation can earn, grow, excel, and shine. Due to our ageing workforce where demand exceeds supply, millennials must rise above the challenge of taking up leadership roles – they must step up in exhibiting a high level of EQ and CQ (aka Cultural Intelligence or​ ​Quotient),​ ​leadership​ ​qualities,​ ​and​ ​management​ ​skills​ ​to​ ​build​ ​a​ ​future-ready​ ​nation:

Technology Management: Understand technology well enough to keep abreast of and anticipate emerging​ ​issues.

Co-create Strategies to Meet Needs: Identify emerging needs, and then build and develop a team to address​ ​these​ ​needs​ ​through​ ​co-creation.

Soft Skills Assessment: ​Be in-the-know of emerging tools and assessment methods to accurately evaluate​ ​staff’s​ ​strengths​ ​and​ ​weaknesses.

Workplace Transparency that Builds Trust: ​Leaders must be able to build trust to develop a work culture​ ​that​ ​retains​ ​talents.

Exhibit Cultural Intelligence (CQ): Embrace diversity to minimise tension, and foster good internal and external​ ​work​ ​relations.

Collaborate​ ​with​ ​Recruiters​ ​for​ ​Best​ ​Result

Despite the trend for companies to hand-pick their preferred talents and vice versa, partnering with recruitment​ ​agencies​ ​or​ ​headhunters​ ​is​ ​still​ ​the​ ​best​ ​way​ ​to​ ​go.​ ​Here’s​ ​why: 

1. Recruitment professionals strategically scan the business landscape to help you recruit​ ​the​ ​right​ ​talent

2. Recruiters​ ​have​ ​industry-specific​ ​knowledge​ ​and​ ​insider​ ​information

3. Recruiters are well aware of the latest market trends, salary levels, benefits, and current​ ​skillsets​ ​specific​ ​to​ ​your​ ​industry

4. Engaging professional recruiters will save you time from going through a huge pile of profiles​ ​and​ ​making​ ​the​ ​right​ ​decision

5. Additional services, such as addressing human resources issues, employee engagement practices, appraisal writing as well as recruitment coaching for non-HR managers​ ​are​ ​also​ ​available

In essence, professional recruiters help you to lay the groundwork and match-make your organisation with the talent you need without hassles and misfires. Always remember that professional recruiters are​ ​trained​ ​to​ ​collaborate​ ​with​ ​you​ ​on​ ​your​ ​talent​ ​search.

The​ ​Verdict





Talent acquisition should be a collaborative effort between you and professional recruiters. They are your arms and legs on your recruitment drive. Besides the many benefits mentioned above, the most important​ ​part​ ​is​ ​that​ ​they​ ​cover​ ​your​ ​biases​ ​and​ ​blind​ ​spots. So, the verdict is clear - a collaboration with professional recruitment agencies will yield better results than​ ​identifying​ ​and​ ​recruiting​ ​the​ ​top​ ​talent​ ​by​ ​yourself. Let​ ​the​ ​recruitment​ ​professionals​ ​fight​ ​the​ ​battle​ ​for​ ​you.