Talent acquisition in the age of immediacy

Paul Smith, Partner at Odgers Interim, discusses the evolving influence of a new generation of consumers and the growing impact they’re having on executive level recruitment.

As the number of millennials rapidly approaches the point of overtaking the generations before them, a power shift to ‘digital native’ consumers with adaptability to change is creating the world’s most powerful socioeconomic group of influencers. Businesses are scrambling to acclimatise themselves to the preferences of a generation used to the immediacy afforded by lives and habits integrated with digital technology. It has impacted strategic outlook, business roadmaps and importantly, human resourcing needs.

Technology has created a collected consciousness that is accustomed to a sense of immediacy in everyday life, creating an accelerated pace that has permeated into the business environment. With development, change and disruption occurring faster, significant business milestones are realised a lot sooner. It took the landline telephone 75 years to hit 50 million users; Angry Birds on the other hand took a mere 35 days.

The evolution of human resourcing needs at a senior level is mirroring the increased speed under which businesses are expected to operate. Looking to implement solutions and react to changes faster, businesses need talent immediately and time to hire is now critical. The 9 to 12 month notice period to secure a permanent hire is becoming a time period that for many industries is no longer viable.