The PR Net Digital Event Recap: Ask the HR Expert

This webinar covered the state of the marcomms industry from the HR side, with insights from Gillian Williams, President & Founder of Monday Talent, and Laura O’Hare, Founder of The O’Hare Group. Employers and candidates, read on to learn about the latest trends, advice for hiring and getting hired, plus the industry’s recruitment culture as a whole. 

The takeaways: 

• Hybrid work is here to stay
• Companies are more open to hiring consultants and/or freelancers now, whereas full-time employees were preferred in the past
• Employers are currently seeking candidates with direct experience in their category (i.e. travel), showing a move toward specialist versus generalist because the learning curve won’t be as big
• A positive interview process is hugely important both for the candidate and the company’s reputation
  • Be transparent about the interview process (how many interviews? Is there a writing test?) 
  • Don’t string candidates along – If you meet a great candidate, hire them swiftly. If it’s a no, let the person know right away – don’t ghost them
  • If you’re a company that talks about DEI, sustainability, etc. make sure you have back up to show you act on your ‘purpose’ and don’t just talk the talk
  • Your company’s reputation can be impacted by a poor experience for employees, even if it is just a bad interview experience
• For entry-level candidates, skills/experience in high demand include internships/work during college, being nimble and adaptable to change 
• For senior-level candidates, experience leading during times of change or turmoil (layoffs, restructuring) and have proven to with emotional intelligence
• For all levels: have strong writing skills (students, take a journalism class) and be innovative/have ideas 
• While hybrid is the ideal model for employees, flexibility also matters (do employees pick their days in the office?)
• Company culture: benefits in health and wellness are big right now. Always show – and don’t just tell – you value life-work balance (does leadership take vacation, which encourages employees to do so as well?) 
• Set parameters around PTO so employees take it but there isn’t excess pressure on teams from frequent vacations 
• Before hiring around DEI, look internally: are your practices inclusive? Have you already foster a safe, inclusive environment? Bring in experts to do this first 
• DEI advice: talk to your employees, have open and honest convos, hear how they are feeling and get their input – this should be an ongoing, collaborative effort
• Motivating and engaging Gen Z: constant communication, mentorship and 1-1 time can help boost morale and make employees feel valued and like they are contributing to the business 
• Showcase examples of other employees that have grown and evolved, and show them how they can also rise in the company