Good talent isn't hard to find. Know where to look and how to attract them.

Working In Malaysia (WIM) is a blog dedicated to all things work-related... in Malaysia. Its Q&A format allow readers to ask questions privately (via our Contact page) to be answered by our guest contributors.

Q: Are good talents hard to find?

A: For almost 20 years, I've heard this being said - “Good talent is hard to find”. It really isn't. You just need to know where to look and what you need to do to attract them. Here are a few simple tips that can help hiring managers find good talent to make 2018 a productive and fulfilling year.

• Not everyone is on JobStreet or LinkedIn. Those who are, may not be logged in as frequent as your need for an urgent hire. The best candidates will always be those whom have impressed you before (in previous course of work), or comes highly recommended by recruitment professionals.

• Work harder to impress. Especially in markets and field of expertise where talent shortage is a challenge, you'll need to impress in order to attract and retain the best talent. They will be assessing you from the onset as much as you'll be assessing them. Be truthful and share your expectations and challenges with your headhunter. It's your headhunter’s job not to feel adequate with a candidate that merely fits a technical requirement. A candidate profile that fits the company culture will potentially ease in to new surroundings quickly and more likely to hit the ground running; gaining support and encouragement along the way whilst being celebrated in his or her accomplishments. An early sense of fulfilment will fuel greater performance.

• Build trust from the start. In a niche industry, candidates are often too afraid of openly expressing their interest to explore; fearing it might put their current position in jeopardy. When applying through conventional job application channels, they fear that word will get around (especially to their current employer) that they’re looking for a new job. If a candidate expresses an interest to explore via submission through a headhunter, appreciate and respect them by protecting their confidentiality. A pleasant experience at an early stage of the hiring process paints a favourable picture of you and your company’s professionalism.

• Hire headhunters. Advertising in job portals and social media networks are probably lower in cost and will enable you to reach the masses. Unfortunately, searching for highly valued experienced talent in specialised positions requires a niche. Attracting these talents to a potential opportunity, when they’re perfectly happy where they currently are, requires more than just dangling the carrot. Unearthing their desires and negotiating for what’s best (for employer and candidate) is best left to a neutral party; entrusted by both sides to protect their interests.

That being said, here are a few simple tips for candidates looking for a change in 2018.

• Aim to impress - all the time. Be it your current boss, peers, subordinates, even vendors. Your professional conduct reflects you as a person. And word travels. What is being said about you by those who holds credibility is by far greater than what you say about yourself in your impressive CV. Keeping your JobStreet or LinkedIn profiles updated can help to expand your network and get you noticed too.

• Don’t shortchange yourself. Especially if you’re the best of an elite few. The market is ripe for your picking but you don’t want to make the wrong move either. Reach out to a headhunter even if you’re not actively searching. Expanding your network to someone who can offer professional advice can go a long way. Even world champions need constant coaching.

• Expose yourself to the right people. Manoeuvring your career path can be tricky, especially in a small yet highly competitive industry where talent shortage is a challenge. You don’t want to get caught (by your current employer) looking for a new job but you wouldn’t want to miss out on a great opportunity either. Reach out to headhunters and work closely with the one you feel most comfortable with.

• Find a headhunter you can trust. The difference between a headhunter that merely places you in a job, and a headhunter that finds the right job for you, is their paycheck and your happiness. A trusted headhunter calls a spade a spade, with the sincere intention to improve you or your situation.