October may feel early to start talking about 2027, but the decisions companies make now can determine how prepared they are when the new year begins. Budgets are being discussed, growth plans are taking shape, leadership teams are setting priorities, and new initiatives are being considered. Behind nearly every one of those business goals is another important question: Do we have the people we need to accomplish it?
A strong hiring strategy should not begin when a position suddenly becomes urgent. It should develop alongside the business strategy it is designed to support. As organizations begin looking toward 2027, now is the time to start thinking about the talent that will help turn next year’s goals into results.
Start With Where the Business Is Going
Before deciding who you need to hire, start with where the organization wants to go. Maybe you are entering a new market, launching a new service, expanding a department, implementing new technology, preparing for leadership transitions, or working toward aggressive growth goals. Each of those objectives may require different people, skills, and leadership capabilities.
Instead of beginning with, “What positions do we need to fill?” consider asking, “What expertise will we need to accomplish what we are planning?” That question shifts hiring from a reaction to an open position into a strategic part of the organization’s growth plan.
Identify Talent Gaps Before They Become Business Problems
Some hiring needs are obvious. Others develop slowly. A leader may be carrying responsibilities that should eventually belong to someone else, a department may be growing faster than its current structure can support, or an organization may have strong technical expertise but lack the leadership experience needed for its next stage of growth.
These gaps are much easier to address when they are identified early. Waiting until someone resigns, a major project launches, or growth creates an immediate need can quickly turn a strategic hire into an urgent one. Planning ahead gives organizations more time to understand what they truly need and explore the available talent without unnecessary pressure.
Think About Succession Before You Need It
Succession planning is not reserved for CEOs or retirement announcements. Organizations should understand where critical knowledge, relationships, leadership, and decision-making responsibilities currently live within the business. What happens if a key leader leaves? Who could step into that role? Where would the organization be especially vulnerable? Which positions would be difficult to replace quickly?
Those conversations may reveal opportunities to develop internal talent, restructure responsibilities, or begin building relationships with potential external talent well before a search becomes necessary. The goal is not to predict every personnel change. It is to make sure one unexpected change does not leave the organization unprepared.
Know Which Roles Will Take Longer to Fill
Not every search requires the same amount of time or recruiting strategy. A highly specialized technical professional, senior executive, experienced operational leader, or niche industry expert may require significant market research and direct outreach before the right person is identified.
The strongest candidate may also already be employed and require time to consider the opportunity, interview, negotiate an offer, provide notice, and transition into the organization. If a critical position needs to be filled during the first quarter of 2027, beginning the conversation in January may already put the organization behind where it wants to be. Planning ahead gives companies the ability to be selective rather than reactive.
Understand What the Talent Market Is Asking For
A 2027 hiring plan should not be built entirely around what worked several years ago. Candidate expectations evolve, compensation changes, workplace flexibility continues to influence career decisions, and certain skill sets become increasingly competitive.
Companies do not have to respond to every trend, but they should understand the environment in which they are recruiting. At Concentric, our team is having conversations with companies and professionals every day. Those conversations give us insight into what experienced talent is prioritizing, where companies are struggling to hire, and what may influence a professional’s willingness to consider a career move. That perspective can help our clients build more realistic and competitive hiring strategies.
Decide Where Recruiting Expertise Can Make a Difference
Not every hire requires outside recruiting support, and a strong talent strategy should recognize that. However, organizations should identify the positions where outside expertise could save internal resources, expand access to talent, provide valuable market insight, or protect confidentiality.
Executive leadership positions, specialized roles, confidential searches, difficult-to-fill openings, and business-critical hires may benefit from a more proactive recruiting approach. At Concentric, our goal is to operate as an extension of our clients’ teams, not simply receive a job description and send resumes. The more we understand where a company is going, the better equipped we are to identify the people who can help it get there.
Your Business Strategy and Talent Strategy Should Work Together
Growth does not happen simply because January arrives and everyone receives a new list of goals. It happens because organizations prepare for it, and the same is true of hiring. Companies that approach talent strategically have more time to understand their needs, evaluate the market, build relationships, and make thoughtful decisions about the people who will shape their future.
As you begin planning for 2027, look beyond the positions currently open. Consider the leaders you will need, the expertise your team may be missing, the departments likely to grow, the succession conversations that need to happen, and the people who could help move the organization forward. Ultimately, a business plan is only as strong as the people positioned to execute it.
Start Planning Your 2027 Talent Strategy
Whether you anticipate one critical leadership search or several hires across your organization, Concentric can help you understand the market, identify exceptional talent, and build a recruiting strategy around where your business is headed.