Have you ever stopped to think about the long-term hiring needs of your organization? If not, you should. Through talent mapping, you can better predict the roles you will need to fill in the future and the skills you would like talent to have so you can fill any glaring gaps. Doing this will help you prepare when entering the recruiting process when it is challenging to find great talent quickly and easily. 

Learn the benefits talent mapping can offer your organization so you can see the value in implementing this practice sooner rather than later. Discover also some straightforward, easy-to-use methods that will help you get started so you can fill open positions fast. 

What You Need to Know About Talent Mapping 

Talent mapping allows organizations from any industry to take inventory of the skills their current talent possesses. From there, they can then predict the gaps they will need to fill in the future. Because the world is constantly evolving, you need to know what will be expected from your employees in the next few years. This way, you can ensure you are helping your existing talent hone those skills and hiring new talent that already possesses the qualifications you desire. 

With the help of talent mapping, you can also better match your existing talent with the roles most suited to their skills. When people are working to their full potential and doing something they’re genuinely good at, they’re likely to be happier and more productive while on the job. That is going to create a win-win situation for everyone involved. 

7 Benefits of Talent Mapping 

Finding talent with a specific skillset to fill available roles and quickly doing this has proven quite a challenge for many organizations. This is especially true during a time dubbed as The Great Resignation, as the talent pool has been rather limited for those looking to hire. 

Talent mapping is turning out to be a smart move as it helps predict future needs. By implementing this practice, organizations can find the right talent, place those people in the roles best suited to them, and even retain current talent by allowing them to expand their existing skillset. Talent mapping is beneficial for both organizations and talent.  

1. The Recruiting Process Will Go Much More Smoothly 

Recruiting has become more challenging than ever, as it has become quite difficult to find talent to fill specific roles within an organization. You can develop a clear picture of what is needed moving forward through talent mapping. What roles will your organization need to add or fill? Which skills are going to be the most beneficial? Determining this information now will make it easier for you to find the right talent because you will know exactly what you’re looking for. Then, you can communicate that in your job listings and attract those who are right for any open positions you may have. 

Plus, you will see a few other benefits when you hire someone who is truly a great fit for the job. Someone skilled and good at what they do will be happier on the job, and they will be more productive and less likely to leave your organization. That means you will ultimately see employee turnover rates decline, saving you time and money. 

2. You Will Have a Better Succession Plan in Place When People Retire or Leave 

As the years go by, your existing talent will inch closer and closer to retirement age. Are you prepared to fill their positions when the time comes? Unfortunately, many organizations fail to consider this and then struggle to find talent that can easily step into these senior roles within the company. And that is because many of the younger members of the team are unprepared for the responsibility those roles require. Research shows 69% of millennials feel a lack of leadership development. Given that they are the ones taking over positions left by baby boomers and Gen Xers, it would be wise to prep them now. 

Use talent mapping to cultivate the talent you have based on what your business will need in the future. You can plan a line of succession, training promising employees to be ready to step into those higher-level roles when they become available. This way, you can move someone up to a more substantial role within the organization instead of hiring someone new to take over. 

3. You Can Offer More Training Programs to Improve Skills 

Odds are, you already have some amazing talent on your team, and it would be a shame to lose them simply because they are not up-to-speed with the current demands of the industry. After all, having to recruit and onboard a new employee will only cost you more time and money. Research has shown it may take about half a year for an organization to recoup its outlay in a new employee. That is why it is better to train the employees you do have to better prepare them for the future. 

With the help of talent mapping, you can see which skills are going to be valuable in the next few years. Then, you can find training programs or mentorships that will help existing talent develop or hone those skills now so they can effortlessly implement their new skills when the time comes. 

By investing in your employees in this way, it shows that you consider them to be a valuable part of the team and that you do not want to lose them. You want them to stick around long-term. They’ll feel more appreciated, and in turn, employee turnover rates will likely decline since they won’t need to move on to other opportunities. Employee satisfaction is key to your success. 

4. There Will Be Improved Performance Thanks to Having the Right Candidates 

If you have the wrong person in the wrong role, a lot can go awry. When someone is not qualified to do a specific job, they can find it difficult to accomplish their daily tasks, ultimately hurting the productivity and performance levels of the organization overall. It will usually take this person longer to complete a task since they lack the needed skills and experience to get things done without help and within a timely fashion. That is why it is vital to find the right person for the job. 

One of the benefits of talent mapping is that it will prompt you to gain a clear understanding of what you want from future talent. You will know which skills you value the most so you can ensure anyone you hire has exactly what you’re looking for. Plus, knowing someone’s unique skillset will help you to better match them with a role for which they are actually suited. 

5. It Assists in Building a Diverse Team 

According to research, highly inclusive organizations bring in 1.4 times more revenue per employee, which is impressive. These days, having a diverse team is more important than ever. But the reality is, many organizations are failing to create inclusive environments because they tend to stick to the usual talent pools they know and are familiar with. 

Instead of looking towards new avenues to find talent to fill available roles, they turn to their existing networks of workplaces, universities, and even personal connections. As a result, they do not often receive diverse talent applying to these roles. With talent mapping, you can widen your view of what an ideal candidate looks like in terms of their demographics, background (personally and professionally), and more. Candidates you may have previously overlooked now have a shot. 

6. Employee Retention Rates Will Improve 

The last thing any organization wants is to experience high employee turnover rates. When people leave a company, it puts them back at square one. They must go back through the recruiting process, review applications, and interview to find a replacement to join the team. Not only is this time-consuming, but it is also costly to bring on a new hire. That is why you want to do everything in your power to retain the talent you already have. 

Through talent mapping, you will experience many benefits that will keep employees on board. For instance, providing training opportunities and career advancement chances help people see a future with your organization. When they see potential to grow, they won’t feel called to seek employment elsewhere. Also, by creating a more positive experience and work environment by building a strong team, employees are more likely to be happy on the job. Happy people are more inclined to stick around for the foreseeable future. 

7. No Key Roles Within the Organization Will Go Unfilled 

When an important role within an organization is unfilled for a long time, it creates stress for everyone on the team. Other people will likely find themselves stepping in to ensure no work goes unfinished. That is challenging when they have their own daily tasks to complete. 

For this reason, it is helpful to implement talent mapping because it can assist in helping open positions to get filled at a much quicker rate. You will know exactly what you are looking for, allowing you to easily attract and find the right person for the job. And during the interview process, you can let potential candidates know about the opportunities you have for growth within the organization so they can begin to see themselves working with you for a long time. 

How to Begin Implementing Talent Mapping 

Now the question is, how do you begin using talent mapping to prepare for your organization’s future needs? Luckily, it is not as challenging as it might sound. You will need to consider a few key things to do this successfully.  

• Determine Future Skills and Roles: The primary purpose of talent mapping is to anticipate your organization’s needs before you actually need them. This way, you can begin preparing now instead of scrambling to find quality talent at the last minute. Consider the skills you will find most valuable in talent you hire in the future. Based on industry changes, what will people need to do? Also, are there any roles you will need to add in the future based on how the industry is moving? 

• Write Clear and Concise Job Descriptions: Job hunters are looking for job descriptions and listings that clearly outline what you expect of them. They want to know which skills an ideal candidate should have, as well as any other qualifications. This way, they can quickly determine if they will be the right fit, and you should therefore receive more applications from qualified candidates. 

• Prioritize Career Development for Existing Talent: As mentioned before, helping your existing talent develop and hone the skills they will need in the future will better prepare them to adapt to the needs of their role further down the line. They’ll perform better at their jobs and will be more inclined to step into senior roles when they become available, creating a clear career path for them. 

As you begin implementing talent mapping, do not hesitate to involve people from various departments within your organization. Ask them what they feel the team lacks, where they see things going, etc. Having their feedback will give you a better understanding of any existing talent gaps or ones that may appear in the future. 

Invest in the Future of Your Organization 

With the help of talent mapping, you can assess the viability of your current talent and determine if it can meet your organization’s future needs. This will provide valuable information about talent gaps you have right now and assist in minimizing the gap moving forward, whether by seeking new talent with certain skills or training those already on your team.