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Business leaders unsatisfied with talent acquisition process, RPO firm’s survey says

October 26, 2015

Core recruitment capabilities are lacking in firms worldwide as business leaders struggle to get the quality talent they need to compete, according to the Talent Acquisition 360 report released today by recruitment process outsourcing provider Cielo.

While 89% of the C-level executives, business unit leaders and talent acquisition leaders surveyed agree that talent is a competitive advantage for their firm, the study found a significant effectiveness gap between the importance of key recruitment activities and the performance of these activities by the talent acquisition function.

Business unit leaders are particularly critical; 90% of business unit leaders stated that delivering quality hires consistently should be the top priority for their internal recruitment team. However, only 55% rated their performance as effective — a gap of 33% compared to 14% among C-level executives.

Other crucial aspects of effective talent acquisition are also suffering, according to the report. Business unit leaders reported major effectiveness gaps in talent acquisition’s ability to provide strategic thinking (35%), make a measurable impact (35%) and demonstrate agility (32%).

“It is excellent news that talent is getting the executive level support that it deserves,” said Cielo Founder and CEO Sue Marks. “But with high strategic importance comes a greater degree of scrutiny. Our aim in conducting this research was to uncover the different perspectives of key business stakeholders in order to help talent acquisition leaders plan for the future. It is striking that business unit leaders — critical stakeholders who are dependent on a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy, competently executed — are so unsatisfied. Talent acquisition is not delivering what the business needs to succeed — a situation that requires urgent action.”

The Talent Acquisition 360 report combines the views of nearly 700 C-level executives, business unit leaders and talent acquisition leaders globally on their talent acquisition teams' performance across 12 key dimensions.

Cielo conducted the online survey with research partners, The Starr Conspiracy Intelligence Unit, Cross-Tab, and Lighthouse Research & Advisory. It included 688 C-level executives, business unit leaders and talent acquisition leaders.