Digital technology is transforming the talent acquisition landscape. Join this panel to get a holistic overview of this transformation from three different viewpoints: a highly experienced Talent Acquisition practitioner, a Workforce Solutions Strategic Advisor, and a Senior Account Manager.
Top takeaways:
- Industry innovations that are showing promise in the industry: Allen mentioned Candidate Identity Verification and Assessment Systems, and the potential for AI powered chat systems. Bryan discussed portable employment elements
- Areas in the talent acquisition space are not being addressed by tools and technology: Bryan said there is a lack of a “unifying technology” that brings together all the “talent channels” and the “missing human element”.
- Technologies that improve Employer branding: Allen said, “anything that improves candidate and hiring manager experience” like better applicant tracking systems, interview scheduling, text messaging systems improve candidate engagement and services like same day pay and simplified background checks for non-exempt workers. Bryan added that technologies that allow “fractionalization of shift work” and use of “internal marketplaces” for “internal mobility” and “integration of chat technology in the workflow” will help with branding. Both agreed that the most important aspect for technology is to focus on the candidate experience. Maddie added that addressing logistics issues and better communication will help with employer branding.
- Promising tools and approaches to enable corporations to meet their diversity goals: Allen said impact based hiring and making job descriptions more inclusive. Bryan felt that state laws being passed on demographic and pay rate reporting will encourage diversity in candidate pool. Maddie referred to increase in returnship opportunities.
To wrap it up – Bryan said “Candidates are customer”. Allen saidthat there should be a way to maintain a library of manager reviews for previously engaged workers so they can be the first stop when need arises to keep the talent connection alive.
Both speakers discussed downsides of technology systems such as
- Could adversely impact under-represented groups
- Loss of relationship between HR and individuals
About our Panelists:
Allen Chilson
Talent Acquisition Leader, Vendor Management, Danaher Corporation
Allen has over 20 years of experience in Talent Acquisition and Human Resource leadership roles where his responsibilities have included managing both internal and external teams. His vendor management experience includes RPO and contingent workforce programs, . Allen has extensive experience in the Life Sciences industry and has also worked in the Chemical, Financial Regulation, and Technology R&D industries.
Allen was recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts in both 2022 and 2021 as a DE&I Influencer and in both 2021 and 2020 as a Contingent Workforce Program Game Changer. He is a graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ (BS, Marketing) and is a Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP) as well as holding certifications from HRCI (SPHR) and SHRM (SHRM-SCP).
Allen currently serves as a Board Member for TALK (Talent Acquisition Leadership Keynotes), Washington, DC chapter and has previously served as Chapter President of the Morris County SHRM Chapter. He has also applied his expertise in speaking engagements with several professional organizations, including SIA (Staffing Industry Analysts), ClubVMSA, Procurecon Contingent Staffing and HRO Today. Allen currently serves on the Advisory Board for the 2023 Procurecon Contingent Staffing conference.
Bryan Peña
Founder, Defiant Solutions, LLC
Bryan is a globally recognized thought leader in the world of extended work and open talent. With a unique perspective on the ever-growing demand for comprehensive workforce solutions, he is a widely sought-after keynote speaker, a passionate evangelist for the open talent industry, and a highly sought out expert on emerging talent platforms, workforce management programs, labor models, HR technology, variable and future workforce trends. Through his boutique consulting firm, Defiant Solutions LLC, he enables HR tech companies, service providers, private equity, and enterprise clients to navigate the talent landscape. You can find Bryan being featured on Forbes, Fortune, Buzzfeed, NPR’s Marketplace Uncertain Hour, etc.
Bryan may best be known for his time as senior vice president of contingent workforce strategies at Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA). During his more than ten years with SIA, Bryan and his team crafted the revolutionary Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP) program—now taught on three continents and widely credited with fundamentally changing the global services industry. He also led SIA’s enterprise research schedule and advisory practice to Global 500 companies as well as conference content for the CWS summit from 2010 to 2019.
Maddie Agarwal
Director of Client Services, Indotronix Avani Group
Maddie Agarwal has 15+ years experience in the staffing industry in various capacities, including recruitment, delivery, and account management. She currently serves as the Director of Client Services for strategic accounts at the Indotronix Avani Group. Her primary responsibilities include executing strategies and managing an account delivery team. Her accomplishments include ramping up new accounts to top 5 vendor status, which enabled Indotronix to be nominated for several industry awards. She also helps in rate benchmarking exercises for current and prospective clients. Maddie is considered an expert in implementing best practices and administrating ATS and has suggested enhancements and improvements to internal ATS, resulting in faster recruitment turn-around.
About Ceipal Connect:
Ceipal Connect brings together the staffing and recruitment industry’s leading innovators to meet, network, and trailblaze the future of staffing.