In a world where there is growing competition for good staff, talent pools are a great way for companies to develop relationships with potential employees. They are an important part of an organisation’s employer branding, providing an opportunity for direct two-way communication with potential employees.
But why should a potential employee sign up?
A good talent pool is a resource for candidates as well. A good talent pool will provide information that enables members to get an understanding of what it might be like to work for the company or in the industry supported by the talent pool. Apart from electronic communication they will often provide networking and educational events. These opportunities enable members to meet peers as well as potential employers.
If a candidate is thinking of a change in career direction joining a relevant and active talent pool will put you in touch with people who will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of your proposed new direction. Through your membership of a talent pool you should be able to determine whether you have the skills and experience necessary to make the change without the pressure of applying for a job. This also means that you will know where you have to focus your training and development if you want to pursue that change.
You don’t have to be actively looking for a job to join a talent pool, in fact most members probably aren’t.
In summary, the benefits of joining a talent pool include:
