Top 3 Secrets to Retaining the Best Talent in Professional Services

Samantha graduated with an MSc in Financial Economics from Lancaster University. While studying, her learning and the tools to receive her learning focused on digital methods. Since graduating, Samantha has found the Professional Services industry a frustrating experience, mainly, the firm’s seemingly non-existent IT.

“It felt very odd that in 2018 a top service firm was still not utilizing digital methods that as graduates we have become experienced with. In the back of my mind I kept seeing inefficiencies, and it says a lot about the company if they don’t embrace change. Luckily, I’m now with a firm with practically zero generation gap, and I feel that I am able to contribute more and use my skills effectively.”

One increasing problem in the professional services industry is talent retention. While it’s true there are other politics are work, this article will focus on one: IT that doesn’t align with what graduates come to expect. Here are some examples:

1. Mobility for Talent Retention

There are several employee and employer benefits to mobile working. To keep morale and hard-work up, flexibility is vital. Following a global survey of business professionals in the UK, US, France and Germany, Forbes notes that 91% feel that they contribute more when outside of the office environment. With the advances in Cloud technology and SD WAN, having an option for mobile and flexible working, even if just to avoid the morning traffic or save travel costs, provides a big incentive for talent to stay.

2. Collaboration for Talent Retention

While its true mobility increases talent retention, that doesn’t detract from the fact that colleagues want a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams are essential for increasing transparency within the business, and to get support when it’s needed. In this sense, voice platforms and SharePoint become invaluable for working together and assisting team morale, greatly increasing the likelihood your graduates will stay.

Joining the professional sphere can be a daunting task, that’s why Service Desks can help reassure new employees that they are supported. Messaging and communication through various platforms also allow for increased transparency with other colleagues and managers, improving the business culture, and making work enjoyable.

3. Efficiency for Talent Retention

Not only is it inefficient to expend resources on mundane routine tasks, but it’s also uninspiring for ambitious graduates. By using digital services and a managed service provider, these tasks will be taken care of for you, leaving your graduates full-steam ahead on the tasks that matter.

Talent retention shouldn’t be a problem for a business that cares about its employees and demonstrates this in the intrinsic structure and culture of the workplace. With digital transformation you are providing an infrastructure that helps graduates grow, and makes a statement that your business is adaptable to challenge and change.