After the holiday lull, hiring will begin in earnest once 2025 arrives. With a new year, comes refocused goals and realigned priorities. Here’s what’s on the minds of hiring managers as we step into 2025:
1. Centralizing talent. The remote working arrangements of the pandemic are a thing of the past. There has been a swelling shift to in-person work. Many employers will present this as a make-or-break requirement in 2025. According to one survey, this is aimed to increase productivity and trim the fat of employees who are slacking remotely.
2. Making sense of AI. Can you use AI competently? That includes knowing how to leverage its advantages and recognizing when it’s a job that requires a human touch. AI is here to stay and professionals must know how to interact with this powerful tool.
3. Increasing diversity. As Baby Boomers punch the clock into retirement, the next generation who will be taking their positions is far more varied. Employers need to recognize the priorities and harness the strengths of a more diverse workforce.
4. Engaging soft skills. In an increasingly technologically dominated world, the organizations that stand out have employees that are able to communicate and relate effectively. Soft skills continue to be a prized trait and employers will opt for candidates that display them—even if they have to teach other competencies.
5. Harnessing ambition. Employees want a pathway to career development. According to Korn Ferry’s recent Global Workforce Survey, “More than two thirds (67%) of employees said they would stay with a company if it offered upskilling and advancement opportunities – even if they didn’t like their job.”
