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In the world of tech job hunting and recruitment, the Hire-Train-Deploy (HTD) model is transforming how employers find their ideal candidates – and how candidates get hired. This innovative model represents a significant departure from traditional staffing approaches. What is it, where did it come from, and how will it impact the tech job market?
What Does “Hire Train Deploy” Mean?
The Hire-Train-Deploy model – also known as HTD – is an involved process that can help yield more predictable and sustainable talent outcomes that fit the exact needs of a particular job opening. This model helps create a custom-trained talent pool that optimizes tech talent, providing them with the critical hard and strategic skills they need to succeed (now and in the future) before they start working.
The HTD model makes it possible for anyone to join the tech industry. For prospective employees, HTD vendors help you tailor your skills to the needs of a specific employer, saving you from submitting hundreds of resumes and applying to jobs that might not be a great fit.
For employers, this process saves time and money — HTD vendors assume the cost and risk of screening, hiring, training, and deploying talent in the field, so companies can bypass each step of this process internally and have access to more qualified and talented candidates from the jump.
The whole process allows for both employees’ and employers’ needs to be met from day 1 on the new job.
Where Did Hire Train Deploy Come From?
HTD is a new recruitment model, so where did it come from? And how did it get to where it is today?
The Early Days of Hire Train Deploy
In the 1990s, the IT industry faced an unprecedented demand for skilled, fresh talent. To tackle this, major IT service companies began hiring new talent and investing heavily in in-house training programs. The goal was clear: get these recruits into the workforce as swiftly as possible. At that time, the focus was on imparting the essentials for the jobs of the era and little else.
As these in-house training initiatives expanded, they created job opportunities within IT companies, including roles related to managing the training centers. However, this in-house approach led to inertia, a lack of forward thinking, and resistance to innovative practices when hiring talent.
Tech Disruption and Talk of Transformation
As technology continued to disrupt businesses, employers and recruiters acknowledged the potential for a better model of hiring skilled workers. There was talk of seizing the opportunity to transform business landscapes. Some IT companies made strides toward innovative hiring models, but most struggled to execute them effectively. The talent supply chain remained rooted in the past, and with a significant portion of their workforce consisting of recent graduates, they still faced many challenges.
Birth and Expansion of Hire Train Deploy
The HTD model has been long standing in India, but it only gained real traction in the United States after 2016. Initially, there were only a few companies executing this model in the US. Nevertheless, these companies effectively demonstrated that HTD works as a real-world model in the job market. Since then, the Hire-Train-Deploy model has witnessed exponential growth worldwide. In the US alone, over 10,000 graduates have kick-started their careers through HTD pathways. This innovative approach redefines how individuals enter the job market and how employers tap into the skilled talent they need.
How Does the Hire-Train-Deploy Model Work?
The traditional recruitment approach often falls short, leaving employers with candidates who might not possess the required skills and qualities – thereby spending time and resources to train new employees. This is where the Hire-Train-Deploy model comes in.
Hire
HTD companies screen and hire individuals who have the attributes necessary to excel not only throughout their training but also, eventually, in the workplace. HTD vendors take on this responsibility of hiring and investing in trainees upfront to help ensure their success once they’re deployed.
Train
Once the right talent is identified, candidates undergo customized training through the HTD vendor tailored to the requirements of the client. These trainings are not like college courses – they often simulate the real-world environments where candidates will work. Whether it's gaining proficiency in a particular technology or acquiring industry-specific knowledge, this training ensures that candidates are well-prepared to excel in their designated positions. This personalized approach minimizes the gap between what employers need and what candidates bring to the table.
Deploy
The selected candidates seamlessly transition into their roles within client companies, usually on a contract-to-hire basis, knowing exactly what type of team they’re going to work with, what’s expected of them, and what the company culture is like. Employers no longer need to grapple with the lengthy process of onboarding and training new hires from scratch. Instead, they receive candidates who are ready to hit the ground running, making for a smoother and more productive integration into the workforce.
How Does It Differ From Other Staffing Models?
If traditional staffing models have been around for years, what makes HTD different?
Prioritizing Upfront Hiring and Training
Traditional hiring and training usually begins with employers posting job listings or relying on staffing agencies to vet candidates. However, the HTD model emphasizes identifying promising talent and training them accordingly so they’ll be successful fits for a client’s particular needs. This selection and training process is crafted to ensure that the right individuals are brought into the fold from the get-go.
Customized Training
Traditional staffing methods typically involve matching candidates with existing job requirements. However, HTD involves tailored training. Candidates undergo specialized training designed to equip them with the precise skills needed for their designated roles.
Continuous Development and Adaptability
While traditional staffing agencies may conduct initial vetting, HTD vendors go further by continually assessing candidates' progress and adaptability. This ensures that candidates remain in sync with evolving industry needs, offering employers a dynamic and adaptable workforce.
Reducing the Employer's Burden
The most significant departure from tradition lies in how HTD lightens the load for employers. In traditional staffing models, businesses often sift through candidate lists provided by employment agencies. However, with HTD, employers can trust that candidates have been rigorously vetted and trained to meet their needs. This translates to less time spent on candidate evaluation and more time focusing on core business operations. Additionally, HTD helps employers spend less money on screening, interviewing, and hiring talent; it also helps reduce the time and money tech teams may spend on onboarding and training a new hire to get them up to speed.
Why Use the Hire-Train-Deploy Model
It Fosters Diversity
The Hire-Train-Deploy model breaks down old-fashioned barriers to entry for the tech industry. The rigorous assessment and custom training process conducted by HTD vendors enables companies to hire talent not based solely on their current tech experience and skill sets (that’s taken care of by the HTD vendor). The larger, more reliable talent pool that HTD agencies provide help companies have access to a more diverse range of talent, empowering them with more possibilities to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Expert-Led Customizable Training
Training is at the core of the Hire-Train-Deploy model. This comprehensive training covers a range of essential skills, providing candidates with a solid foundation. This way, the training can be tailored to suit an employer’s specific business needs.
Accelerated Recruitment Without Additional Costs
Traditional recruitment processes can involve lengthy notice periods and large investments of both time and money. The HTD model streamlines the recruitment process without an increase in investment (in hours or in dollars), allowing businesses to grow their IT teams as quickly as needed.
Cost-Effective and Competitive
The Hire-Train-Deploy model is cost-effective because it eliminates the need for extensive searching, hiring, and training of fresh talent. It also minimizes the risk of mis-hires. The model also offers employment opportunities to those new to the field, equipping them with essential skill sets and practical experience, making them valuable assets.
Get Started with HTD Talent
At HTD Talent, we’re focused on driving transformation in the industry by empowering careers and powering companies. We close the gap between the skills of those entering the workforce and what employers are looking for.
Our intensive training program is here to help you meet your needs for talented software developers who are ready to hit the ground running. Reach out to partner with us today.