Our Hiring Hero Series showcases talent acquisition pros across the globe who are dedicated to connecting people with their next great opportunity.
Stephen runs talent acquisition at Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services. With approximately 6,000 employees that serve more than 24,000 client organizations across North America, Stephen’s team has to meet demanding recruiting goals.
Recently, we sat down with him to get a deeper understanding of how he tackles hiring.
“Almost 70% of Morneau Shepell employees have direct contact with customers. So we’re looking for the best of the best to represent our organization and support our clients.”
So what’s it mean to you to be a hiring hero?
“To me, it is the result of a much larger group effort. My success in this space is largely due to the incredible work and support I’ve received from the talent acquisition teams I work with.”
What excited you most about working at Morneau Shepell?
“Morneau Shepell is a company that helps people…that’s definitely what drew me in. It’s rewarding to work somewhere that’s improving lives. We’re helping support the mental, physical, social, and financial wellbeing of lots and lots of people.”
That’s incredible! And what’s unique about recruiting at Morneau Shepell?
“Almost 70% of Morneau Shepell employees have direct contact with customers. So we’re looking for the best of the best to represent our organization and support our clients. Our success is fueled by the human capital we bring on board. It’s critical we hire the right people.”
Can you share a little bit about the types of skills are you looking for in a candidate?
“We need multi-talented people—problem solvers who are compassionate, engaged, and highly educated. They’re not just filling out numbers on a form. They’re impacting individuals’ lives.”
“Throughout this time, we are connecting digitally and we’re committed to communicating regularly with our clients, offering them information to support their employees, and ways to leverage our support.”
Those are specific skills! Is it challenging to find and hire the right people?
“More than 90% of our associates have completed at least one postsecondary education. So it can certainly be challenging to hire the level of talent required at Morneau Shepell: the candidate pool is smaller and the competition is greater. On top of that, we need access to a lot of candidates because we have such a wide range of roles to fill.”
So what are some things your team does to tackle hiring demands?
“We started partnering with ZipRecruiter last year and it’s saved us so much time. Their AI sends us tons of qualified candidates! I mean, we’ve hired hundreds of people through them. Others claim to use AI, and maybe they do. But it’s never worked as well as I’ve seen it work with ZipRecruiter.”
And have your recruiting strategies shifted since the start of COVID-19?
“With so many people dealing with adversities right now, our services are needed more than ever. Throughout this time, we are connecting digitally and we’re committed to communicating regularly with our clients, offering them information to support their employees, and ways to leverage our support.”
Can you talk a bit more about how Morneau Shepell goes above and beyond to land top talent?
“We make sure to offer attractive career opportunities with comprehensive compensation packages, wellbeing offerings, professional development and a flexible workplace.”
Let’s talk a bit about your recruiting goals. Which land at the top of your list?
“I think I am always looking for that perfect fit. I want the candidate to thrive and feel fulfilled in the role and I want the hiring manager to be excited and benefit from the additional support.”
Stephen’s Tips for the Future of Recruiting
“It’s never been more important to stay ahead of new recruitment technologies. Everyone has quickly been forced into utilizing online tools because we can’t shake hands face-to-face. And it’s only going to continue going in this direction. We need to adapt to new technologies. This transition could have a really powerful impact on the way we do our recruiting down the line.”
Join the Morneau Shepell team! Committed to improving lives by optimizing the health and productivity of people at thousands of organizations, Morneau Shepell is a rewarding place to work. And people have never needed their services more than they do right now.
Stephen is connecting people with great opportunities at Morneau Shepell every day. Check out some of the roles his team is hiring now:
