As if keeping the talent pool healthy wasn’t already a sufficient challenge for those responsible for talent acquisition, doing so during a pandemic has made TA a moving target.

“Every organization, in every industry, is currently facing a talent crisis,” says Tim Sackett, president of HRUTech.com and best-selling book author The talent solution. “It’s not just a 2021 issue; organizations will strive to resolve their talent challenges in the years to come.

Kyle Lagunas, Global Head of Talent Acquisition, Attraction, Sourcing & Insights at General Motors, notes that, if you think about all that has happened over the past year, it’s no wonder that the leaders of the TA are in difficulty. From uncertainties over hiring budgets to remote crossings to the current “big resignation” crisis, hiring issues have preoccupied most tech support executives for over a year. But now, he says, it’s time to get down to business.

“[Most TA leaders] didn’t know if we were going to downsize, like we did during the Great Recession. We didn’t know if we were going to put people on leave. Many of those in TA positions went through a crisis last year with no real timetable, ”he says. “With that, now is a real and crucial time for TA leaders. “

Sadly, adds Lagunas, those in charge of tech support and human resources will have to make decisions without really knowing what the next six months or the next year has in store for us, as COVID continues to unfold.

“These are really tough days for a tech support manager because the pressure is on and the future looks so unpredictable,” he says.

See Also: Why Remote Recruitment Isn’t Going Away And What It Means For HR

While Sackett says most small and medium-sized businesses and large businesses “all ask for workers, at all levels,” some organizations are thriving. At next month’s Human Resources Technology Conference, he will join Lagunas, Kinetix CHRO Kris Dunn and Madeline Laurano, founder of Aptitude Research, to present a mega session on the technology that helps these organizations grow their pipelines and hire quality employees faster.

Lagunas will share how he is tackling the TA challenges at GM. For example, he says, he is developing the concept of a “zero-emission talent pipeline,” which mimics GM’s strategic goals for product innovation.

Attendees will also gain insight into technology solutions that will meet growing hiring demands and discover other new ways to acquire talent.

“There is no smooth navigation [for TA leaders] right now, ”says Lagunas. “But we all have to do our best while the world is on fire.”

---

To learn more about the talent acquisition journey at HR Tech and to register for the conference, which will be held September 28 to Oct. 30 1 in Las Vegas, Click here.

Tom Starner is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer who has covered the HR space and all of its component processes for over two decades. He can be contacted at [email protected]