In this episode of The Talent Tango, Amir Bormand is joined by Alex Kim, Head of Talent at NewLimit, to discuss the nuances of expectations and requirements in talent acquisition. They dive into how talent professionals can better understand and serve domain experts, establish success criteria, and adapt to the unique challenges of niche and bleeding-edge industries like biotech. Whether you're an early-career recruiter or a seasoned talent leader, this conversation offers invaluable insights into building trust, setting realistic expectations, and aligning talent strategies with business objectives.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding the Stakeholders You Serve:
Talent acquisition is a consultative function. By deeply understanding the organizational structure, team dynamics, and priorities, recruiters can align their strategies with business goals.
Data-Driven Collaboration:
Use talent mapping and market data to set clear expectations with hiring managers, especially for niche roles. Transparency is key to refining hiring criteria and finding creative solutions.
Building Relationships Beyond the Job Post:
Strong relationships with hiring managers aren’t built overnight. Attend team meetings, listen actively, and invest in understanding technical priorities to foster trust and streamline collaboration.
Navigating Challenges in Niche Hiring:
Hiring for cutting-edge industries requires long-term thinking and creative sourcing strategies, such as engaging academic institutions and leveraging leaders’ networks for outreach.
Balancing Process with Agility:
Processes should enable, not hinder, recruiting success. Adapt your approach based on organizational priorities and challenges, knowing when to tighten or loosen guardrails.
Timestamped Highlights:
[00:01:10] Alex defines what it means for talent professionals to serve domain experts.
[00:03:07] The importance of understanding organizational design and team strengths before starting a search.
[00:04:40] How to build trust with hiring managers and maintain relationships during lulls in hiring activity.
[00:07:22] Alex on pushing back against unrealistic expectations with data and market insights.
[00:12:45] The unique challenges of sourcing for bleeding-edge industries like biotech.
[00:18:07] Redefining talent acquisition as a consultative role.
[00:24:04] Balancing process efficiency with the need for agility in recruiting.
Quote of the Episode:
"Despite being domain experts, hiring managers rely on us as talent advisors—not order takers. Our job is to bring the market data, build relationships, and guide them toward the best talent solutions." — Alex Kim
Resources and Links:
Connect with Alex Kim on LinkedIn: Alex Kim
Email Alex: alex.kim@newlimit.com
Learn more about NewLimit: NewLimit Website
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