Two Ways to Speed Up the Search for Elite Talent

Latest research shows a growing sentiment among recruiters that elite talent will be more difficult to identify over the coming years.

A Career Builder and EMSI Analysis joint study found nearly 63 percent of employers are worried about the ever-widening skills gap. Top-level candidates are becoming scarce in highly technical job areas, and recruiters must change their processes in order to narrow down exactly where they should look to fill job listings.

Look where the data suggests
The great thing about recruiting in the 21st century is it's no longer a guessing game. Technology has changed the way HR approaches recruitment, specifically when using an applicant tracking system (ATS). By using an ATS, aggregating data and streamlining the hiring process is much easier than ever before.

Career Builder recommends using data to drive the decision-making process when it comes to finding elite talent. It can key you in to certain qualifications found on a résumé that have translated to success at your company. Data can also identify regions where the best employees have come from, or which job sites aren't yielding high-end talent.

Let your company perks do the talking
Job candidates want a great work-life balance—that's a given in any industry. Even if you're paying them six figures, if they're working more than 50 or 60 hours a week they'll eventually grow unhappy and leave, according to U.S. News.

There are a number of different ways top companies like Netflix and PricewaterhouseCoopers are finding elite talent and retaining it—but it all stems from the job perks. PricewaterhouseCoopers helps its employees pay off their hefty student loans. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings describes the company as a team effort, not a job, according to Silicon Valley Business Journal.

"We're a team, not a family," a company slide deck stated. "We're like a pro sports team, not a kid's recreational team. Netflix leaders hire, develop, and cut smartly, so we have stars in every position."

The company offers unlimited vacation time, which is not a perk all businesses can offer, but it's something to consider. When you paint outside the lines and try something just a handful of other businesses are giving their employees, you stand out to elite talent. This makes recruiting easier, as they'll find you, not the other way around.

Consider implementing data and restructuring your employee benefits packages to attract and retain quality candidates.