The Times Australia
Google AI
Small Business News

.

HR Managers Get Creative on Recruitment Struggles


The tight labour market in Australia is forcing HR managers to get creative with how they source and nurture talent within companies.

With most industries nationwide citing staff shortages and difficulty recruiting for vacant roles as key factors limiting productivity, it is clear that for businesses to thrive, drastic action is needed.

This has caused HR managers and recruiters to start rethinking how they go about filling roles.

Historically, some companies had an excellent reputation for being places employees could work to grow their careers. Employees of these companies have been able to ‘start in the mailroom,’ as the cliché goes, and work themselves up to key positions within the company leadership.

However, for the most part, Australian companies have always been keen to bring in new blood, with recruitment heavily focused on attracting outside talent. This has the benefit of introducing fresh ways of doing things which can drive innovation and promote excellence.

However, in today’s tight labour market, old ways of recruiting and managing staff just aren’t working anymore.

This is driving a rethink about the value of existing staff – and maybe that is a good thing!

Filling the gap

HR managers tasked with filling roles within organisations are finding that there is a war for good talent.

Not only is it difficult to attract applications, once applicants are invited to an interview, it’s difficult to even get them through the door. Record numbers of applicants simply don’t turn up for their interviews.

As frustration sets in and companies limp along with key roles vacant, it is often the existing staff who pick up the slack. In many cases, these staff have been filling in for more senior roles but have been overlooked for promotion because of a lack of relevant qualifications.

This is why responsive HR managers are starting to look at ways to upskill these high potential existing staff members, facilitating their promotion into more senior roles that help keep things ticking along.

Through partnering with Registered Training Organisations, staff can quickly obtain qualifications that enable them to step into new roles effectively.

Workplace training courses in everything from business to health give staff practical skills, while enabling them to fast-track their progress through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Post-graduate qualifications with RPL are available to help staff step into management roles.

Human Resource management has always been about keeping the good ones and recruiting the best ones. But when finding new recruits is a challenge, we can work with turning good to best!

Property Times

What First-Time Buyers Must Know About Mortgages and Home Ownership

The reality is, owning a home isn’t for everyone. It’s a personal lifestyle decision rather than an obligation. But for those who want long-term security and like the idea of building equity, it’s a worthwhile move. The process of going into home ...

New Year, New Keys: 2026 Strategies for First Home Buyers

We are already over midway through January, and if 2025 was anything to go by, this year will be over before we know it. For Joseph Khalil, Managing Director of With Finance, the start of the year is the most critical time for Australians to take c...

Vendor Advocacy Fees

Vendor advocacy fees can vary widely based on a number of factors, including the type of service provided, the scope of the engagement, and the experience of the advocate. Here's a general breakdown of how these fees might be structured: 1. Flat...

Understanding Kerbside Valuation: A Practical Guide for Property Owners

When it comes to property transactions, not every situation requires a full, detailed valuation. In many cases, lenders, investors, or homeowners simply need a quick, efficient assessment of a property’s approximate market value. This is where a ke...

Food & Dining

IFTAR Turns Up The Heat With The Return of Ramadan Nights From 18 February

Iftar returns to IFTAR, with the Western Sydney favourite opening after dark for Ramadan  IFTAR introduces Ramadan Nights with a new evening service and dedicated Ramadan menu An after-dark dining experience built for post-sunset feasting and...

The past year saw three quarters of struggling households in NSW & ACT experience food insecurity for the first time – yet the wealth of Australia’s top income earners grew by almost $600,000 a da…

Everyday Australians are struggling to make ends meet, with the cost-of-living crisis the major cause of concern for households across NSW and the ACT.  Data from the 2025 Foodbank Hunger Report showed one in three households in NSW and the ACT ex...

Single and Ready to Mingle – the Coffee Trend Australians Can Expect in 2026

Single-origin coffee is expected to increase in popularity among coffee drinkers over the next 12 months, as the global trend makes its way to Australia. Australians’ love for coffee is well documented, with an estimated 16.3million cups consumed ...

Sweeten Next Year’s Australia Day with Pure Maple Syrup

Are you on the lookout for some delicious recipes to indulge in with your family and friends this upcoming Australia Day? Here we have rounded up a selection of our favourite recipes that we thought may be of interest to you – from refreshing drink...

Business Times

Jaco Vosloo appointed Partner at CYLAD Sydney

Global management consulting firm CYLAD has appointed Jaco Vosloo as a Partner in its Sydney office.  With more than 20 yea...

Marketers: Forget the Black Box. If You Aren't Moving the Needle…

Two years ago, I entered the digital marketing space with the mindset of an engineering student and the work ethic of a h...

Extreme weather growing threat to Australian businesses in storm …

  Australian small businesses are being hit harder than ever by costly disruptions, with new data by leading...

The Times Features

Small, realistic increases in physical activity shown to significantly reduce risk of early death

Just Five Minutes More a Day Could Prevent Thousands of Deaths, Landmark Study Finds Small, rea...

Inside One Global resorts: The Sydney Stay Hosting This Season of MAFS Australia

As Married At First Sight returns to Australian screens in 2026, viewers are once again getting a ...

Migraine is more than just a headache. A neurologist explains the 4 stages

A migraine attack[1] is not just a “bad headache”. Migraine is a debilitating neurological co...

Marketers: Forget the Black Box. If You Aren't Moving the Needle, What Are You Doing?

Two years ago, I entered the digital marketing space with the mindset of an engineering student ...

Extreme weather growing threat to Australian businesses in storm and fire season

  Australian small businesses are being hit harder than ever by costly disruptions...

Join Macca’s in supporting Clean Up Australia Day

McDonald’s Australia is once again rolling up its sleeves for Clean Up Australia Day, marking 36...

IFTAR Turns Up The Heat With The Return of Ramadan Nights From 18 February

Iftar returns to IFTAR, with the Western Sydney favourite opening after dark for Ramadan  IFTA...

What causes depression? What we know, don’t know and suspect

Depression is a complex and deeply personal experience. While almost everyone has periods of s...

5 Cool Ways to Transform Your Interior in 2026

We are at the end of the great Australian summer, and this is the perfect time to start thinking a...