Driving Talent Acquisition Excellence

Lorraine Carr, Head of Talent Acquisition, HUB24 Group

Lorraine Carr, Head of Talent Acquisition at the HUB24 Group, exhibits an impressive 17-year tenure in the recruitment arena across numerous industries. Her professional journey has been enriched by extensive involvement in system implementation, change management, EVP (Employee Value Proposition) strategy development, client engagement and leadership of teams. At present, Lorraine leads a talent acquisition team responsible for managing recruitment, employer branding and diversity initiatives across the multifaceted entities comprising the HUB24 Group. Her passion for innovation, commitment to continuous learning and development and compassionate leadership highlight her approach to drive organizational success through strategic talent acquisition practices.

Through this article, Lorraine shares her visionary leadership and talent acquisition excellence to drive business success, transforming young talents into successful leaders.

Mentoring Talent through Cross-Functional Collaboration in the Workforce

By working in different sectors, I have been exposed to talent acquisition. I use my experiences to consistently mentor young individuals in their journey towards success. For instance, we introduced the Tech Turn Program, a technology Internship Program in 2015 to cultivate the next generation of talent and future leaders under our business model.

Partnering with universities across Queensland, we actively recruit undergraduates and grant annual scholarships to deserving graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Our program isn't just about recruitment; it's about comprehensive learning and development. We immerse interns in the latest AI advancements and facilitate cross-collaboration among different areas of the workforce to foster innovation.

The impact of this method has been profound. Many former interns have grown with our organization and transitioned into successful careers. Through mentorship and practical experience spanning various disciplines, we ensure they have the skills to excel in today's evolving business environment.

Crafting Tomorrow's Leaders Through Selective Path to Success

We select candidates with strong backgrounds, particularly those with degrees in STEM fields, commerce, law, or business management. A crucial prerequisite for success in our program is a data or data science degree.

“We listen to the story behind their career path and how their university education has shaped their skills and aspirations.”

Our selection process involves thorough in-person interviews, where we evaluate their ongoing endeavors and present them with behavioral scenarios. To gauge their suitability, we assess their activeness in university groups or leadership roles within teams. Based on these interactions, we determine the best fit for the organization.

Selected candidates work with us once or twice weekly, with additional engagement during university holidays. During this time, they are assigned specific projects with clearly defined objectives. Each candidate is paired with a mentor to support their development. We also provide masterclasses focusing on soft skills and emotional intelligence to enhance their professional understanding.

The Power of Soft Skills, Values Alignment and Diversity

Soft skills are equally important in career growth as any technical skill. We listen to the story behind their career path and how their university education has shaped their skills and aspirations. This approach helps us determine if the tech industry is the right fit for them. We assess interns based on their alignment with our company's values and purpose, ensuring a mutual match.

Diversity is another key aspect of the success of any organization and we ensure that we maintain it in our workforce. We have 17 interns, with approximately 40 percent being female. This is a source of pride for us, given the significant gender gap in the tech sector.

Navigating Tides of Talent Development

We started this program at a comparatively small scale and have witnessed substantial growth within the HUB24 Group, with nearly 1, 000 members today. This journey was difficult for us, the major challenge being the demand for resources to accommodate this growth. Addressing this, we have invested time and effort into the training and development of our interns. We've structured comprehensive learning channels, providing access to resources like DataBricks and LinkedIn Learning. We've organized weekly sessions with industry experts and conducted career workshops in their final year to align their skills with their career goals.

Effectiveness of the Internship and Graduation Program

Our internship program has been instrumental in guiding numerous candidates toward success. A standout success story from our Tech Terns Program illustrates this journey as one intern seamlessly transitioned into a full-time role within the company. This success story is the outcome of the launch of our graduate program last year. Throughout the past eighteen months, this candidate has played a pivotal role in our business, rotating across various departments within the technology team and consistently delivering top-tier performance.

Our interns actively engage with and learn from different departments across the company. Whether collaborating with the operations team or closely working with the investment team, they are immersed in diverse projects to enhance their technical proficiency and refine their influencing and branding skills. These experiences enhance the full spectrum of their abilities.

Better Future Leading

The impact of our Tech Terns Program will be profound. As participants are products of the digital era, they possess a unique aptitude for everything digital, which sets them apart from previous generations. This digital fluency positions them as valuable assets for the future workforce. I am particularly eager to witness the dynamic leadership they will offer to businesses moving forward. Their innate understanding of digital technologies and fresh perspectives promise to bring transformative energy to organizations.

Innovation is the Key

As a leader, I consistently advocate for experimentation and innovation within my team. Embracing failure is a crucial component of the learning process. Encouraging them to explore new ideas and approaches fosters creativity and enhances their skill sets. Through the power of innovation, I enable my team to reach new heights of success.

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