Winning the Talent War: Strategies That Go Beyond Paychecks

In today’s fiercely competitive job market, winning the war for talent requires more than just attractive paychecks and perks. Organisations are shifting towards more holistic strategies that prioritize meaningful experiences, personalised rewards, and continuous growth opportunities.

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping recruitment by making hiring processes faster, more efficient, and data-driven. Yet, even as AI becomes a powerful ally, industry leaders agree: the human touch remains irreplaceable.

From Selling Careers to Curating Experiences

• The traditional promise of lifelong careers is fading. In its place, companies are designing curated employee journeys—ensuring each touchpoint, from onboarding to impact, is intentional and rewarding.

“A key strategy is enhancing the professional value of talent. By offering continuous learning, exposure to cross-functional projects, and growth opportunities, companies signal to employees: ‘Work with us, and your market worth will rise,’”
— Abhay K. Srivastava, CHRO, IKS Health

• In particular, younger employees value experiences that push them beyond their comfort zones—across functions, geographies, and disciplines. Job variety and cross-genre exposure are becoming key tools for boosting engagement and retention.

Managing a Multigenerational Workforce

• Today’s workplace spans multiple generations, each with unique motivations. Veteran employees may prioritise recognition and job stability. Mid-career professionals often seek challenging opportunities and upward mobility. Meanwhile, younger workers want meaningful work, flexibility, and purpose.

“This diversity necessitates a tailored talent strategy, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Organisations must balance the needs of all cohorts while staying aligned with their core values,”
— Santana Ramakrishnan, CHRO, ZEISS India

• Listening and adapting to evolving employee needs is no longer optional—it’s essential to staying relevant in a dynamic employment landscape.

AI in Recruitment: A Partner, Not a Replacement

• AI is transforming recruitment—shifting from simple resume filtering to advanced tools that predict success and improve hiring outcomes. From anonymizing candidate data to reducing unconscious bias, AI is enhancing fairness and efficiency across the process.

But even the most advanced technology can’t replicate human intuition.

“AI in recruitment is like Google Maps—it gets you close, but you still need to read the directions, look around, and sometimes roll down your window to ask for help,”
— Rajita Singh, Chief People Officer, Kyndryl

She adds,

“AI is brilliant at identifying patterns and speeding up the initial stages, but hiring truly happens in a conversation. That’s where culture, intent, and human connection come in.”

• Recruitment, Singh emphasizes, is not just filling a vacancy—it’s like casting a play. It requires sensing the intangibles: presence, energy, empathy, and purpose.

The Future of Talent is Human-Centric and AI-Assisted

• To win the talent war, organisations must move beyond transactional approaches. The future lies in a blended model—where AI accelerates processes, and humans lead with empathy, storytelling, and culture.

Ultimately, it’s not just about finding talent—it’s about inspiring it to stay and thrive.

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