Importance of Talent Management in Gaining a Competitive Edge
The value of proper and effective recruitment, talent, and retention management strategies cannot be overestimated. If companies attract, develop, and retain creative and loyal employees interested in contributing to their growth, they can become more competitive and successful. Since airline companies depend severely on the talent and skillfulness of pilots, the race for good workers intensifies, which is why Southwest Airlines needs the best management strategies.
Recruitment Sources
Southwest Airlines can recruit pilots through its website, job boards, and social networks. These three sources are not costly but allow for advertising job vacancies, posting all the necessary information, and receiving numerous resumes (LaVoie, 2020). First, a company’s website can include FAQs about the position, and it is more likely that candidates who visit the website are interested in working precisely at this company (LaVoie, 2020). Further, job boards and social networks require companies to pay for advertising, which means such a service brings effect and value (LaVoie, 2020). The use of such social media skyrockets, and firms receive numerous resumes and can accept offers, with this process not taking more than a month.
Common Methods to Select Candidates
Candidates can be assessed and selected via application reviews, phone and personal interviews, personality evaluations, and cognitive ability or situational tests. All these methods allow companies to receive the information they need to decide (Painter & Haire, 2022). While interviews are mostly needed to verify the data presented in resumes, tests can show whether a candidate has the required qualities or knowledge.
Methods to Select New Pilots
When selecting new pilots, it is vital to check their skills and evaluate whether they can manage stressful situations and assess risks. Therefore, the three methods offered to Southwest Airlines are situational tests, hard and soft skills assessments, and reference checks (Glynn, 2022). These approaches will help the airline firm receive reliable impressions of the candidates, and their validity and utility are proven by research (Painter & Haire, 2022). Finally, these tests are legal, especially if the company considers ethical considerations and confidentiality.
Standard Methods to Train and Develop Employees
Training approaches like coaching, instructor-led and interactive education, on-the-job training, simulators, case studies, and roleplaying can be used. Some, such as coaching, are not costly and are common when an already skilled employee needs to get acquainted with a new position (Painter & Haire, 2022). Other, more integrated, and deep approaches are expensive but allow companies to prepare skillful employees who meet all their requirements.
Methods to Train New Pilots
Piloting is a profession that requires deep development approaches that allow pilots to be more decisive and stress-resistant. According to Sommer (2014), “training methods comprise classroom instruction, computer-based training, and practical training” (p. 32). Such training outcomes make new pilots more acquainted with technologies, upgrade their hard and soft skills, and enhance “crisis management, decision-making, leadership, and communication,” proving its effectiveness (Sommer, 2014, p. 32). Costs are high, but risks are minimized through enhancing and improving the programs.
Common Performance Management Systems
The most frequently used performance management systems are the HR review-driven approach, objectives and key results, performance appraisals, and rewards and bonuses systems. The former three are mostly effective when a company needs to merely ensure that its goals are met by employees or align its objectives with workers’ objectives (Anandani, n.d.). At the same time, the last one can boost employee motivation to work better or allow the firm to show appreciation for great performance.
Managing the Performance of Pilots
One may say that traditional annual approaches aimed primarily at evaluating employees’ KPIs are impractical when working with pilots. Thus, Endicott (2020) offers continuous performance management based on check-in discussions and trusting conversations that summarize a pilot’s performance once a month or even more often. Such an approach is specific and unique, and its validity is proven by the fact that frequently given feedback raises workers’ motivation and performance.
Common Methods to Minimize Voluntary Turnover
One of the methods to minimize the risks of turnover is to initially hire the right and most fitting people. Those who only need to work ‘somewhere’ and ‘for some time’ are more likely to leave soon. However, people who have long wanted to work for a specific company will be loyal and hold on to the offered opportunity (Painter & Haire, 2022). Additionally, firms need to make sure that what they promise is actually what they give to employees, and providing monetary and non-monetary rewards is also crucial.
A Method to Retain Pilots at Southwest Airlines
It is recommended that Southwest Airlines remember about competitors when trying to retain its pilots. According to the National Business Aviation Association (2018), competition in aviation grows, meaning that skilled and talented pilots may become attracted by more effective offers from other firms. To avoid that, Southwest Airlines should ensure that it meets pilots’ needs and compensates their work in all ways possible, including high salaries, recognition, and non-monetary bonuses.
References
Anandani, R. (n.d.). 5 performance management tools for organization growth. Web.
Endicott, B. (2020). Continuous performance management at Southwest Airlines: A video brief with Kerry Frost. Simply Strategic Talent. Web.
Glynn, P. (2022). 13 effective employee selection methods. Insight Global. Web.
LaVoie, L. M. (2020). Recruitment sources: Best practices for internal & external hiring. Recruitment.com. Web.
National Business Aviation Association. (2018). Strategies for retaining skilled business aviation professionals. NBAA. Web.
Painter, A. J., & Haire, B. A. (2022). The hiring process: A complete system to save time, simplify steps, and strengthen your team. Joy of Pursuit Publishing.
Sommer, K.-J. (2014). Pilot training: What can surgeons learn from it? Arab Journal of Urology, 12(1), 32-35. Web.