Building a Collaborative Company-Wide Hiring Ecosystem

Hiring top talent is a team sport that requires collaboration across the entire organization.

That's the value that Lance Sapera holds and he was kind enough to talk through his sentiments and playbook on a recent episode of Talent & Growth - The Talent Acquisition Podcast .

As Lance explains, creating a company-wide hiring ecosystem is essential for attracting, recruiting, and retaining the best employees.

The Importance of an Ecosystem Mindset

Too often, companies view hiring as solely the responsibility of the talent acquisition (TA) team. However, to be truly successful, hiring needs to be seen as a strategic business priority with buy-in from all functions.

"Recruiting isn't just a TA thing," says Lance. "When we can make that mental shift that it's not transactional...that's when you know you're making progress."

When the broader business is invested in the hiring process, TA can flourish as a strategic advisor rather than just a role filler. This mindset recognises TA's opportunity and responsibility to deliver top talent that accelerates the company's objectives.

Building Bridges Across the Company

Developing strong partnerships between TA and other teams is crucial for an integrated hiring ecosystem. Some key strategies:

1. TA must learn the business inside and out to effectively advise and screen candidates for what teams truly need. In-depth business knowledge allows recruiters to be strategic talent advisors.
2. Set metrics that matter to the business, not just TA. One powerful metric is net headcount, which ties hiring to overall employee retention and growth.
3. Encourage transparency by sharing real-time hiring data, both successes and challenges. When business leaders can access and dig into the numbers, it sparks productive discussions.
4. Align TA roles with counterparts in other functions like HR Business Partners. Having clear cross-functional points of contact streamlines collaboration.
5. Create business advisory councils with representatives across teams. Looping in the business upfront when changing processes builds vital buy-in.

Embedding Diversity and Inclusion

A people-first ecosystem should also prioritise diversity and inclusion from the start. This needs to be core to the company's DNA, not an afterthought.

"It can't just be 'hire more diversity, TA,'" says Lance. "It has to be the company committed to it."

Practical steps include setting measurable D&I goals by department, surfacing diverse hiring needs in recruitment meetings, surveying candidates on belonging and inclusivity, and providing interview training for hiring teams.

Looking Ahead

Looking to the future, Lance sees candidate experience, nurturing talent pipelines, career transitioners, and AI-assisted recruiting as key trends shaping hiring ecosystems. The underlying theme is using technology to enhance the human element.

"How can we use AI in a way that [TA] has more time for the personal relationship - the piece that makes them special?"

By taking a collaborative, company-wide approach to hiring, organizations can attract the multifaceted talent they need to thrive. An integrated ecosystem ensures TA is a trusted, strategic advisor throughout the employee lifecycle.

Catch the full episode here:

On Apple

On Spotify