Hiring For The Future
The best time to start hiring for the future is today!
Introduction
Hiring the right talent is crucial to the success of any organization, and in today's rapidly evolving world, it is essential to hire candidates who possess depth of knowledge and expertise in a specific field or discipline while also having breadth of skills and knowledge in other areas. These future-ready professionals, commonly referred to as T-shaped professionals, are highly sought after as they possess the necessary skills and competencies to thrive in a constantly changing and dynamic business environment.
The T-Shaped Professional
The concept of the T-shaped professional was first introduced by David Guest, a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, in the 1990s. The T-shaped professional has deep expertise in a specific area, denoted by the vertical stroke of the T, but also has a broad range of skills and knowledge in other areas, represented by the horizontal stroke of the T. According to research by Deloitte, T-shaped professionals have several advantages over their peers, including a higher degree of adaptability and the ability to learn and integrate new skills and knowledge quickly. This is because their broad range of skills and knowledge allows them to make connections and integrate ideas from various fields, making them more innovative and creative in their problem-solving approach.
The Future Ready Candidate
A future-ready candidate is someone who possesses the necessary skills and competencies to thrive in a rapidly evolving business environment. The World Economic Forum has identified several key skills that are essential for future-ready candidates, including high emotional intelligence, adaptability, strong communication skills, resilience, cross-cultural competence, leadership ability, critical thinking, problem-solving, and a willingness to learn continuously. Research by the Centre for Creative Leadership has shown that future-ready candidates are more likely to succeed in leadership roles and are better equipped to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty.
T-Shaped and Culture
How do T-shaped professionals fit into progressive culture? T-shaped professionals are ideal candidates for organizations that prioritize innovation and creativity, as their breadth of skills and knowledge allows them to make connections and integrate ideas from various fields. These professionals are also more likely to embrace a growth mindset and are willing to learn and adapt continuously. Organizations that value diversity and inclusion also benefit from hiring T-shaped professionals, as they often possess cross-cultural competence and can bring a unique perspective to the table.
The Culture Fit
Hiring future-ready T-shaped professionals who are a great cultural fit is also crucial to the success of any organization, as employees who fit well with their organization's culture are more engaged, more productive, and more likely to stay with the organization long-term. Organizations should prioritize diversity and inclusion when hiring T-shaped professionals, as they can bring a unique perspective and contribute to innovation and creativity. Therefore, organizations should ensure that their hiring processes are designed to identify and attract future-ready T-shaped professionals who are a great cultural fit for their organization. This can be achieved through a range of strategies, including using competency-based interviews, leveraging employee referral programs, and conducting culture fit assessments. By prioritizing the hiring of future-ready T-shaped professionals who are a great cultural fit, organizations can build high-performing teams that are equipped to thrive in the ever-changing business environment. To source and hire T-shaped professionals, organizations need to focus on developing and implementing effective recruitment and talent management strategies. This includes identifying the key skills and competencies required for the role, creating a diverse and inclusive hiring process, and leveraging technology to streamline the recruitment process.
The Future Of Work
The future of work is rapidly evolving, and organizations must adapt to remain competitive. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs report states that by 2025, the workforce will require an entirely new set of skills and competencies, including analytical thinking and innovation, complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, leadership and social influence, emotional intelligence, and technology use, monitoring, and control.
The report also notes that digital skills will be essential, as organizations continue to embrace digital transformation, automation, and artificial intelligence. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated remote work and has forced organizations to adapt to new ways of working, emphasizing the importance of skills such as digital collaboration, communication, and time management.
Into The Future Today!
T-shaped professionals are well-suited to the future of work, as they possess the necessary skills and competencies required in the rapidly evolving business environment. They are adaptable and can quickly learn and integrate new skills and knowledge, making them valuable assets to any organization.
Research by LinkedIn has shown that the top skills required in the future of work include creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, all of which are common among T-shaped professionals. In addition, T-shaped professionals are well-suited for remote work, as their broad range of skills and knowledge allows them to work independently while also collaborating effectively with their team members.
Global consulting firms such as McKinsey & Company and Deloitte have recommended that organizations prioritize hiring T-shaped professionals to remain competitive in the future of work. They suggest that organizations should look for candidates who possess deep expertise in a specific field or discipline, as well as a broad range of skills and knowledge in other areas.
In addition, consulting firms recommend that organizations provide opportunities for their employees to develop new skills and knowledge, either through training and development programs or through exposure to different projects and areas of the business. This will not only help employees develop into T-shaped professionals, but will also improve overall organizational performance.