“Skills are emerging as the hiring norm—a trend set to intensify in 2024,” Amit Chincholikar

Talent tango: Fresh faces, sharp skills, or tech triumph? HR’s 2024 balancing act

The primary focus in 2024 will be on developing new skills. The manufacturing industry is shifting towards more agile and innovative approaches to deliver high-quality products and services. This includes customisation for customers to achieve differentiation. Such a model requires continuous reskilling, adoption of new work methodologies, and crossfunctional collaboration across geographies, which is novel for the workforce. Hence, I believe that developing new skills will be the top priority for 2024!

Work reimagined: Office redux, remote reign, or hybrid harmony in 2024?

Determining the approach is challenging, as it depends on the role and industry. Undoubtedly, collaboration and innovation flourish in environments that facilitate physical interaction for debates and idea exchange. Nonetheless, flexibility emerges as a crucial factor. Recognising individuals’ diverse personal responsibilities and allowing work based on individual circumstances will become paramount. The essential element is fostering a culture of respect and trust. In the presence of such a culture, the relevance of the work location becomes insignificant. A onesize-fits-all approach is impractical. Organisations succeeding in attracting and retaining key talent in this environment prioritise consistency, transparency and customisation.

Flexi policies, for pay, learning and feedback, empower collaboration by tailoring to individual needs as well as generations, even while maintaining transparency and consistency

Five generations, one workplace: Can HR unify the tapestry of talent?

I see this as a dilemma between a set thali and an à-la-carte menu, each having its merits and demerits. The crucial aspect is to design policies that promote collaboration and teamwork. Therefore, customisation and flexibility should be emphasised. This applies to compensation structures, learning delivery methods and performance feedback, providing an opportunity for customisation tailored not only to each generation but, in fact, to each individual employee. Transparency and consistency remain pivotal.

Degrees or doers? Will skills reign supreme in 2024’s hiring arena?

Formal education serves as a starting point for individuals. Beyond that, the ability to acquire new and relevant skills, adapt to novel working methods and deliver tangible outcomes is crucial for staying ahead. Key differentiators often revolve around behavioural or leadership skills, rarely covered in formal education. Hence, skills are increasingly becoming the hiring norm, a trend that will likely strengthen in 2024.

Quiet quitting tsunami: Can HR turn the tide on disengagement?

Despite technology’s advantages, we must acknowledge its inability to replace the human experience. Employee engagement centres on fostering a comprehensive experience that facilitates learning, growth, and most importantly, a sense of value. While this experience can be facilitated through technology, it always remains an enabler and cannot substitute for the human experience itself.

This article is sponsored by Thomas Assessments

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