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December

5 Innovative Trends That Will Drive Business in 2018

Another year is about to come and go. In 2017, there were many hot trends and topics that shaped the recruiting industry. From the ability to identify transformational talent, to focusing on the importance of storytelling in talent acquisition, and understanding the reshaping role of the CMO. The year saw both small and large organizations tasked with new and unique challenges in the battle to attract top talent.

So what’s in store for 2018? We believe these 5 trends will drive business in 2018:

1.Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Will Continue to Disrupt

Our article Winning the War for Top Machine Learning and AI Talent highlighted a trend that isn’t about to go away in 2018: Top companies will continue to go after big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning talent with practical corporate experience and a track record of successfully bringing their AI innovations to life in the real world. Tech giants are poaching machine learning talent from leading universities and organizations, offering unmatched opportunities to create significantly impactful use cases and call the world’s leading technology hub, Silicon Valley, home.

Given the height of the competition, the short supply of qualified candidates who fall into the category of leading edge, and the difficulty in attracting top talent, hiring talent with expertise in big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning will continue to be a challenge for employers in 2018, especially for smaller firms.

2. Intellectual Challenges Will Drive Leaders – Not Compensation

Salary, benefits, stock options, and other perks are still important to today’s executives. That’s no secret. But if today’s leaders are not provided intellectually challenging opportunities, the compensation package isn’t going to matter. Why? Today’s CIO, CMO, and executive leader is motivated to make a difference in their company and industry.

In 2018, the trend will continue: Top executives will need to be intellectually challenged, and if they are not, they will find the company that provides new challenges to succeed – not just a strong compensation package.

This leads to the next trend to watch for in 2018…

3. Leaders Want the Ability to Transform a Category or Business

In many organizations, the ability to be challenged intellectually starts with access to the latest and greatest technologies. This isn’t only for Silicon Valley employers anymore. It takes the right technology and tools to help transform a category or business, and if a company is not equipped with the right technology and tools to compete, leaders won’t be intellectually challenged, and they won’t be able to transform a category or business.

Another way leaders can transform a category or business is to provide an outstanding customer experience…which leads us to our fourth 2018 trend to watch.

4. Customer Experience Is Everything

How do you drive a consistent experience across all customer touch points? Start with a CEO who is engaged, and believes in the importance of a strong customer experience, according to the Forbes article Five Trends Shaping The Future Of Customer Experience In 2018. Because, companies with the best customer experiences have CEOs who truly care about the customer experience.

Even if the customer experience hasn’t been a priority, it’s not too late to start. As the Forbes article pointed out, when companies set out to make customers’ lives easier and better, it can transform a business.

5. Employee Engagement Will Drive Recruiting and Retention

Employee engagement is not just a buzzword. Want proof? The article Employee Engagement Trends for 2018 pointed two alarming statistics: 

  • 70% of U.S. employees are not engaged – meaning there is an increased chance employees may quit and move on when a better opportunity comes
  • 78% of today’s business leaders rate employee engagement as a top concern (Deloitte report)

Why is it important to have an engaged staff? Simple: One report showed that companies with engaged employees outperform those without by up to 202%.

In the past, engaging employees meant sending out internal communications and company newsletters, but that’s far from enough heading into 2018. Employees want more connection than ever. They want to be a part of something bigger, something that makes a social impact or difference. Employee engagement doesn’t happen overnight. It happens over time, and 2018 is the time to start focusing on employee engagement programs that make a difference, and keeps your top employees.

These are 5 trends that will drive business in 2018. Are you ready?

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