As easy as it sounds hiring for skills is as tough as asking some one to looking into a fire and predict the future. It can be tough especially in today’s fast paced environment but also absolutely essential in order to ensure any semblance of continuity. One of the most important things I believe we need today is ADAPTABILITY/AGILITY; call it by any other name and it sounds exactly the same!
The mobility to take knowledge and apply to a different business, in a different region and in many cases a different function. Skills are tactical they are like signposts, they rarely ever move, but it would be tough to get to a destination without a signpost.
Hiring for skills is akin to digging a well when one gets thirsty!
As long as one has talent skills can be developed. Organizations hire consultants to meet a tactical need. That’s the perfect place to look for a specific skill! It is a short term need and once met another one may not arise for a while. Talent on the other side transcends functions and projects it is really AGILE!