Many companies hold off on hiring in a down market and might even be laying off employees. However, this can actually be an excellent time to source new talent for the future.
Clearly, the most important asset for PR agencies is people, so this is a great time to take advantage of a deeper applicant pool to lock in top talent that will help strategically position your firm for the future.
Of course, even if an immediate hire is not possible, this is a great time to target those wish-list candidates for a get-acquainted coffee or lunch meeting. You might even want to explore candidates who will help you grow an entirely new practice area or seek out heavy hitters who can accelerate your growth once the economic situation improves.
With an aggressive talent strategy in place, once that tide does turn, you'll already be riding the first big wave while your competitors are still digging themselves out of the sand.
Jami Secchi is VP at PR Talent, NY.
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