Transforming Talent Acquisition, Onboarding, and Internal Mobility: Conversations With CEOs, CHROs, and TA and HR Leaders

Talent acquisition (TA), onboarding, and internal mobility have experienced intense turmoil in the past 18 months, and the next 18 months are likely to be no less turbulent. In 2021, the two top stressors worldwide for CEOs and C-suite executives were COVID-19 and recruiting and retaining top talent, according to the “C-Suite Challenge™ 2021: Leading in a Post-COVID-19 Recovery” report from The Conference Board. The pandemic put unprecedented focus on employees as organizations were required to prioritize health and safety and change the way work gets done. “HR has been center stage during COVID,”as one CHRO we interviewed put it. The labor market has gone haywire in the past 18 months; as of this writing, it is historically “tight,” meaning it is extraordinarily difficult to hire and retain talent. Voluntary turnover is the highest it’s ever been. CEOs and leaders are now more dependent on and more attuned to human resources (HR) than ever.