In the science world, as in all technical fields these days, there’s a strong emphasis on the need to find the best talent. That’s not surprising, given the fact that most hiring managers are well aware of the growing shortage of people working in all STEM jobs. As baby boomers prepare to retire, and as higher educational institutions continue to produce less people who are willing to invest their time in the study of these critical professions, competition for talent will only become stronger and more challenging.
When companies are able to win over the best talent—whether they’re large corporations or small labs serving a very specific purpose—they’ve definitely won the battle. But they haven’t won the war. That’s because the art of retaining that talent is much more nuanced and complex. And it’s not just about winning another single battle. It’s really a marathon in understanding how to nurture your most valuable human capital so your organization will be well equipped to win the ever-evolving and continuous war on the global competitive stage.
In this age of global competition, when even small labs are competing on a massive scale, it’s this human capital that will be your most valuable company resource for waging and winning every battle.
So this is the challenge, and it’s a perennial one: being able to nurture talent in a way that will make them willing to stay with the organization— and stay that course—in order to have the maximum positive impact on your business. That’s definitely not easy, considering there are so many employment opportunities for the best workers in technical fields such as science and engineering. Though the job market continues to be tough for many people, those who have the coveted technical skills are truly able to chart their own course. As a result, old ideas around traditional models of employment, like the 40-hour workweek, have already begun to significantly erode. Alternative models of employment, like contingent arrangements, are instead providing a lot of flexibility for modern workers who may enjoy the freedom of guiding their own career and moving from place to place in order grow in, change, and influence their profession.
Read more at Lab Manager Magazine