Why does talent acquisition belong on the executive board’s agenda?

Because a company’s success depends to a large extent on its employees and their skills. Companies devote a great deal of attention to their market position and their growth targets. But which capabilities are needed to actually achieve these targets? This question often receives too little attention. Talent acquisition must not start only once a position becomes vacant. Executive boards should think ahead: which skills will we need in three or five years? Which are already missing today? And how do we attract the right people in good time?

What happens when key positions remain unfilled for a long time?

Projects are delayed, innovation slows down and growth opportunities go unused. Existing employees have to absorb the missing capacity. If this continues, there is a risk of a downward spiral of overload and higher staff turnover. The situation gets worse when applicants wait weeks for a response and therefore decide in favour of another employer. Then the search starts all over again and the position stays vacant for even longer. A vacant key position can thus jeopardise the implementation of the strategy. Speed is therefore a competitive factor, but not at the expense of careful hiring decisions.

Where are the greatest opportunities in talent acquisition?

Above all in rethinking processes. Recruiting is teamwork: HR, line managers and everyone else involved need to be able to work together quickly and securely. When application documents circulate by email and feedback is gathered individually, the result is delays and data protection risks.

At the same time, companies need to take greater account of the applicant’s perspective. An attractive careers page alone is not enough. What matters is the overall experience: how easy is it to apply? How quickly and appreciatively is feedback given? How personal is the contact? Every touchpoint shapes the image of an employer. Even beyond filling a single position, it is worth nurturing relationships with interesting talent.