Beyond the Resume: Attracting and Retaining Mission-Aligned Talent

Building a high-performing team that’s a perfect fit for your school’s culture is a challenge for every leader. In this episode, we're joined by Ika Muzamal, Director of Talent and Culture at the International School of Kuala Lumpur. Drawing on her unique background in law and infrastructure, Ica shares why high turnover is a symptom of a deeper issue, how to look beyond the resume for a true values-match, and the surprising reason why great talent stays.

💬 Quotes from the Episode:

💸 "Research shows that the tangible things, like salary, like benefits... they're not actually what retains and attracts your talent."

🚀 "Hiring is one of the most important things that we can do... it's probably the most important thing that a leader can do for the organization."

🤝 "As much as we're interviewing the candidates, they're interviewing us as well."

✨ "You have to be authentic through and through, from that first impression all the way through the everyday life."

📌 Key Insights:

💖 Prioritize Intangibles Over Tangibles: Retention and attraction are driven by a sense of belonging and mission-alignment, not just salary and benefits.

👁️ Combat Bias with Multiple Perspectives: Mitigate unconscious bias by using panel interviews and a 360-degree feedback process, ensuring candidates are vetted by a variety of stakeholders.

🗺️ Weave Mission into Every Stage: Make your school's mission and values central to the entire recruitment and interview process to find candidates who are a true cultural fit.

🏫 Make the Interview an Experience: Treat the hiring process as a chance to showcase your school's culture, ensuring every candidate has a positive and respectful experience.

🛑 Conclusion: The success of a school starts with the people who walk through its doors. By being intentional and authentic in your recruitment strategy, you can build a team that not only excels but truly belongs. For a deeper dive into these strategies, be sure to check out Ika Muzamal's new course, Strategic Talent Acquisition.

Ready to take your hiring to the next level? For more insights, virtual events, and professional development resources, visit iss.edu/events. You can also explore hundreds of career opportunities and job fairs at iss.edu. Don't miss out on everything ISS has to offer! 🚀