Hang on to your top talent – give them global assignments

At a recent conference in London on Engaging with Employees and Managing Talent effectively, we debated how to retain talent before they are lured away by competitors or increasingly, becoming self employed consultants.

New research reveals top professionals overwhelmingly want to move abroad – not to escape the recession, but to advance their career in a highly competitive, global market.

The 2010 Hydrogen Global Professionals on the Move Report reveals that for 60 percent of respondents the recession has had ‘no impact’ on their willingness to move overseas, and 94 per cent are either already working internationally, or want to do so.

Hydrogen Group surveyed over 3000 mid- to senior-level professionals earning an average salary of $125,000 USD to understand the mindset and motivations of highly qualified professionals at a time of uncertainty and flux in the global recruitment market.

Motivations of top talent included:

Mid- to senior-level professionals see international experience as a key means of fast-tracking their careers and boosting their personal development.

Greater earning potential is not in itself a top priority for this demographic.

The economic downturn is not a major factor in middle- and senior-level professionals' willingness to accept global roles

While more men say they would definitely move abroad, more women (34%) are actually in jobs overseas compared to 26 percent of men.

The issue facing Talent Managers is how to keep this elite group engaged by giving them the right level of assignments.  Having a strong succession plan and long term talent management strategy is essential to prevent these high fliers from walking into the open arms of competitors who are actively looking for talent with international experience.

For independent advice on how to proactively manage your talent, contact Katherine Wiid, Director of People and Career Management Specialists Recrion on 01780 484910.  Visit www.recrion.co.uk for more information.