Features Recruitment
A deep dive into top hiring practices: Key takeaways from Talent Canada’s Recruitment Week

As Talent Canada’s Recruitment Week, brought to you in partnership with Cegid, draws to a close today, it leaves behind a trail of insights and discussions on the evolving landscape of recruitment and employment.

This special week focused on providing employers with valuable strategies and knowledge to attract the best candidates, featuring a blend of new articles and the best from Talent Canada’s archives.

Addressing key recruitment issues

One of the highlights of the week was an article on the anatomy of an effective job interview, featuring insights from Kiljon Shukullari, a Toronto-based HR advice manager. Shukullari emphasized the importance of avoiding simplistic yes/no questions and tackling unconscious bias to enhance the interview process.

In the same vein, we heard from the always entertaining and insightful Evert Akkerman, who walked us through the art and wit of job interviews — including a memorable line about why he hates the question: “If you could be an animal for a day, what would you be?”

“Being a spotted timberwolf for a day doesn’t mean they’d be great as a receptionist, accountant, or VP sales,” said Akkerman.

Skill-based hiring emerged as a significant theme, with an article discussing its role in uncovering hidden talent and addressing labour challenges. This approach challenges the trend of qualification inflation, where employers increasingly demand higher degrees for positions.

The week also featured a poignant discussion on the employment challenges faced by young Black men in Canada, highlighting issues of racism, ageism, and classism. With a higher unemployment rate among this demographic, the article underscored the need for more inclusive hiring practices.

Innovative strategies and social responsibility

Employers’ use of outdated jargon in job postings and its deterrent effect on potential candidates was another topic of interest. An article shed light on how language in job advertisements significantly impacts applicant attraction.

The recruitment of Indigenous workers was another focal point, with Canadian corporations increasingly seeking cultural awareness training to improve their recruitment and retention of Indigenous employees.

A unique perspective was offered on the mass-hiring strategies of Canada’s Wonderland and Wet’n’Wild as they prepared for the summer season. These articles provided insights into the challenges and tactics involved in hiring large numbers of seasonal workers.

Broader employment trends

An article on the Canadian Armed Forces highlighted their ongoing recruitment crisis, with a severe shortage of recruits posing significant challenges.

The week also touched upon Alberta’s past initiative to attract skilled workers from Toronto and Vancouver, reflecting inter-provincial dynamics in Canada’s job market.

Looking to the future

Issues such as the use of AI in recruitment, the importance of hiring people with disabilities, and the changing nature of the retail and restaurant sectors in a competitive job market were all discussed, providing a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities in today’s labour market.