how to shape a flexible and adaptive workforce.

In uncertain times, HR departments are scrambling to tackle one challenge after the next. A company might be rebalancing overall headcounts today but striving to hire new talent tomorrow. To build resilience and adaptability in this dynamic environment, creating a flexible and adaptive workforce is essential.

your pathway to a flexible workforce

As the world of work rapidly transforms, HR departments are compelled to build flexible workforces that can quickly adjust to market trends by scaling up or down. At the same time, the 2024 Workmonitor reveals that work-life balance is now the top priority for talent, presenting an additional challenge for employers.

As your company adapts to uncertain times, you need to organise your staff according to market trends. When an unforeseen need for staffing emerges, you must have the capabilities to hire the right talent for as long as you need them. 

these are some of the ways that can help you build a flexible workforce:

foster a culture of continuous learning

Encourage ongoing professional development to keep your workforce adaptable. Providing access to online courses, workshops, and seminars helps employees stay up-to-date with industry trends and skills.

promote a hybrid work environment

Flexibility in work location can attract a wider pool of talent and increase employee satisfaction. A hybrid model allows for both in-office and remote work, providing the adaptability needed in today's market.

implement workforce analytics

Utilise data to predict workforce needs and trends. Workforce analytics can help identify skill gaps, forecast staffing needs, and optimise workforce planning.

enhance internal mobility

Develop clear career paths and opportunities for internal transfers and promotions. Encouraging internal mobility helps retain top talent and ensures critical roles are filled by experienced employees.

leverage temporary talent

Whether you require support during a peak production cycle, to fill a temporary placement due to a specific project or parental leave, or just need a more flexible option than permanent employment, you need to embrace the concept of a contingent workforce. 

A successful flexible-employee strategy has a significant impact and can help you:

• overcome a lack of specialised work-skills
• manage peak production cycles
• prevent burnouts among existing staff  
• meet your customers’ expectations

ensure the quality of candidates

The cost of hiring the wrong candidate can be very high. Bad hires usually take few initiatives on their own and have low productivity overall. Additionally, poor performers can drive away top performers in your organisation, thereby decreasing the total productivity of your teams. That is why it is so important to ensure the quality of the candidates and the people you end up hiring. 

​​Engaging the services of a credible talent provider is a reliable method to ascertain whether a candidate possesses the necessary skills and aligns well with your company culture. This approach ensures thorough vetting and qualification of candidates, enabling you to make informed hiring decisions.

create an effortless hiring experience

Candidates under time pressure tend to favour companies that offer an effortless hiring experience. They're also more likely to stay engaged if they receive hiring updates throughout the process. 

Utilising technologies such as video interviewing can simplify the hiring experience for both employers and candidates, enabling remote applications and enhancing efficiency.

use the latest technology

To build a modern flexible workforce, you as an employer need to take advantage of tech-enabled tools to expedite the process of sourcing, pre-screening, assessing and interviewing candidates.

To increase conversion of passive talent, you might be interested in Radancy, a talent acquisition software that allows you to host online recruiting and networking events. Another example is Harver, which uses collective intelligence for hiring and retaining talent.