Cultivating the next generation of retail talent

With a mission to promote retailing as a long-term career path, the NRF Talent Acquisition Group meets regularly to share best practices and discuss pressing talent issues. The spring meeting took place at Carter’s Atlanta headquarters April 12-13 and included more than 30 attendees from 20 different companies.

“The NRF Talent Acquisition Group meetings provide a competitive advantage,” says Penelope Sur, vice president of talent at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “Talent professionals purposefully brainstorming and exchanging best practices with each other creates a strong think tank for our industry.”

During the meeting, Paradox’s Joshua Secrest, vice president of marketing and client advocacy, and Kristen Bailey, vice president of talent acquisition, discussed conversational AI and high-volume hiring automation. Handshake co-founder and CEO Garrett Lord shared how companies can engage with early talent and transform their early talent recruiting strategy, and NRF Vice President of Government Relations and Political Affairs Jason Straczewski provided an update on federal and state policies that are impacting talent acquisition.

Other topics discussed at the meeting included ChatGPT and its use in hiring, skill-based hiring strategies, and diversity, equity and inclusion measurements.

“Convening retail talent acquisition leaders to discuss the most pressing topics that impact the recruitment of talent across hourly and salaried positions is critical to the health of the business and industry,” says Adam Lukoskie, executive director of the NRF Foundation, who leads the NRF Talent Acquisition Group. “This networking and exchanging of ideas is a great opportunity for any retail executive focusing on talent.”