The hiring landscape can feel unpredictable, especially in light of rising costs, cautious growth strategies, and intense competition for top talent. Although organizations may be more cautious about hiring overall, there seems to be a push by some organizations to ramp up recruitment efforts for more niche positions. To better understand what’s happening in the job market today and how organizations are facing difficult hiring decisions, we sat down with Will Jeffreys, Brand Strategy Director with The Studio at Symphony Talent.
From identifying emerging trends to offering practical strategies for niche and hard-to-fill roles, Jeffreys shares insights on how employer branding, creative strategy, and candidate experience can make all the difference when budgets are tight and the competition for talent is fierce.
Q: What trends are you seeing in hiring right now?
In the U.S. and Europe, as inflation and costs increase, businesses are finding it more and more difficult to keep their heads above water or do better than they did last year. For many, this means consolidating, downsizing (or rightsizing), and shifting priorities to focus on innovation to save money today and generate revenue going forward.
At the same time, many of these companies are experiencing some real pains with the "doing" jobs that are integral to their operation. Across various industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare, there is a scarcity of qualified people available to perform these roles. Why? Because we're not training enough people to do them and the competition for qualified people is fierce.
So what you're seeing is high competition for specific roles in an economic environment that emphasizes cutting costs. Many of our clients are experiencing the perfect storm of needing to compete and stand out, but with a greater scrutiny and control over budgets.
Q: What advice would you give an organization that is recruiting for a hard-to-fill or niche role?
If money is no object, I'd say: pay them loads of money and offer loads of training. For most organizations, however, there are budgets to consider and restrictions on the amount of money they can spend. In this case, I would concentrate on two areas:
- Activate your internal team to become brand ambassadors. Focus on providing a good experience for the people who are already working for you. Especially in this market, retention is going to be as important as attraction. So set up an ambassador program that empowers employees to post about the company on their own channels. Offer dedicated training to support them and reward them with recognition. And, be sure to use the content they create as much as you can.
- Make the most of the attention you capture. If people are visiting your career site, don't waste that opportunity to engage and nurture them. Encourage them to provide their information for updates or job alerts. These individuals have essentially raised their hand and said they are interested, so it’s important to maintain that relationship on some level. Give them relevant content and encourage them to apply.
Q: How does branding and creative support these niche hiring scenarios?
Jeff Bezos is credited as saying, “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” Branding is the way you manage that. It's the active management of the way people see you. Some businesses can do it innately, but really thinking about what you offer and why it’s good for the candidate can help you be more focused in what you say.
Your brand creative, on the other hand, helps you say it in a way that grabs people’s attention. It helps you cut through the noise so you can stand out.
And in niche hiring, when there is untold competition, saying something different and saying it differently can bring big rewards.
Leveraging brand and creative to break through the noise and attract right-fit talent
In today’s market, every candidate — especially those in high-demand, niche roles — is being bombarded with competing messages and opportunities. The challenge isn’t just reaching them, it’s standing out long enough to make an impact. This is where brand and creative come together. A strong employer brand provides the foundation: a clear, consistent story about who you are, what you offer, and why it matters to the right people. Creative execution then brings that story to life in ways that cut through the noise, whether that’s through compelling visuals, authentic employee stories, or content tailored to a specific audience.
For talent teams, this combination is what turns generic outreach into meaningful connection. It helps candidates see not only what a job is, but why it’s the right fit for them. And in niche hiring, where competition is fierce, that ability to resonate and differentiate can make all the difference.
Did you know that Symphony Talent offers award-winning, full-service brand and creative services? If you’re ready to stand out, we’re ready to help you! Check out The Studio at Symphony Talent for more details!
