Retention/talent management

What it involves

Since McKinsey & Co first coined the phrase ‘the war for talent’ in the mid-1990s, organisations in the western world (and increasingly the developing world) have recognised that they are all competing to attract and retain the most talented individuals. Since then, large organisations (typically multinationals, and most commonly in the finance sector) have created posts concerned exclusively with retention and talent management.

This is the strategic side of HR. Rather than dealing directly with employees' personal issues or being involved in recruitment interviews, for example, professionals in this role apply their skills the planning stages. Work will be influenced by the particular organisation's business goals, and ensuring that employees are focused on and engaged with those goals.

The retention and talent management professional will:

• research employee satisfaction levels and identify areas that need to be improved upon
• ensure that training and development is focused and beneficial
• look at succession planning and fast-track promotion schemes
• help to design and implement leadership development schemes
• ensure the preferred image of the organisation is reflected in order to attract the best individuals.

This is an HR-related role that's extremely business focused, which can mean more time analysing data and speaking to senior board members, rather than dealing directly with employees themselves.

What's required

You will almost certainly need a related HR qualification, such as that offered by the CIPD. In such a strategic role, more than a year's relevant experience will probably be required also.

You'll need strong analytical and problem solving skills, and ability to communicate with people in all levels of an organisation; strong presentation and report writing skills; a high level of business acumen and good management skills.

If you can get HR experience at a large organisation, with a particular talent management and retention function, so much the better. But all HR departments will focus on this area in one way or another, and will allow you to gain experience if you tell them it's a particular interest of yours.

Get clued up

For specific roles you'll need to look at the high-end HR and recruitment press for job adverts, such as the CIPD's People Management magazine. It is also worth researching large organisations across a range of business sectors, particularly within the finance industry, and checking their websites for vacancies.