There’s been banter about our being in an economic recovery the last couple of weeks. Of course, most of those decreeing “recovery” are using rather small megaphones, and they all keep adding “good luck surviving the recovery.” Nonetheless, what goes down must, eventually, go up, and savvy business owners are already looking ahead.
For some business prognosticators, there’s a key trend on the horizon that could make an economic upswing as challenging to navigate as this current downturn. Word is that talent shortages await many businesses looking to grow in the not-so-distant future. There are many reasons for this anticipated draining of the talent pool, but the short version is that there’s a rising skills mismatch in our country (read Erickson’s full article in Harvard Business Review for details) in which there’ll be fewer qualified workers for the types of jobs generated.
Suffice to say, employers will need to offer employees distinct advantages in order to lure and secure the top talent for their companies.
Though your business may be very slowly coming out of the crash position, having braced for the economic ka-boom, you’re likely (hopefully) looking ahead to the next chapters. Once you stand, stretch and fully assess the landscape around you, it will be time to make forward motion for the health of your company. To that end, who are going to want to take with you into the future? What type of employee are you going to need when ‘grinding halt’ transforms into ‘full-steam ahead’? And what advantages will your business provide to make the top talent?
The current workforce is populated with increasingly tech-smart people who are mobile, connected and disinterested in being tethered to cubicles for eight hours a day. The emerging workforce has never known a world without the World Wide Web; for them, mobile technology and wireless communications are staples of life, not “new” developments. The point is, qualified workers across generations are accustomed to technology that is integrated into all aspects of life, and thus, they will likely be drawn to companies that innately embrace this reality as well.
Statistics show that the types of jobs to be created in the near future will require some post-high school education; of course, countless jobs will require advanced education as well. Educated, skilled workers are hired for very specific roles and must focus on their designated tasks. Many professionals not only won’t have the time, desire or energy to handle administrative/non-core functions; in a competitive job market, they won’t have to. As companies jockey to hire the top talent, concessions, support and alternatives will abound for qualified workers.
As you look ahead, consider the flexibilities and efficiencies of virtual offices and virtual support staffing. By building your infrastructure with malleable work configurations, responsive support and location non-specific standards, you will be poised not only to recruit from the cream of the crop, you’ll be poised for long term growth. The workforce is increasingly non-traditional, and thus, your business should be as well. Incorporate virtual office space to accommodate the mobile, wireless connected team members you hire. Employ virtual receptionists and virtual assistants to support the professional leaders you recruit, allowing them to focus on the specialized roles you most need them for. Show your current and future staff members you are progressive, technologically savvy, eco-conscious and, importantly, employee-focused.
Companies like Davinci Virtual are ready to help you begin incorporating virtual solutions now, quickly and affordably. These solutions are customizable to grow with your business and to respond to the needs of your team, now and in the future.
