| Hire
Unlocking recruitment potential: KEO's data-driven transformation in the MENA talent market
SUCCESS STORY
Leveraging data-driven solutions to fill roles
The talent acquisition team in KEO, a diverse international consultancy firm, was performing very well but they faced some challenges in sourcing skilled talent within the competitive MENA region. KEO wanted to take its recruitment process to the next level by expanding on its traditional methods in order to identify and attract high-quality candidates. By adopting LinkedIn Talent Insights (LTI), KEO streamlined its recruitment process, improved internal mobility through skill-based analysis, and positioned itself proactively in a dynamic market landscape. This strategic shift not only reduced time-to-fill roles but also enhanced employee retention by providing clear career growth pathways.
THE CHALLENGE
Sourcing high-quality talent to recruit
As a diverse international consultancy company, KEO runs on specialised talent in construction, engineering, environmental design, and more. This means it requires highly-skilled employees, and sourcing them can be challenging, especially in the highly competitive Middle Eastern and North African region (MENA).
In terms of recruitment methods, KEO utilised social media, attended career fairs, maintained internal spreadsheets, and relied on standard HR management systems. The company was also using LinkedIn Recruiter, a powerful tool that enables organisations to identify and reach out to candidates through detailed search filters. Although LinkedIn Recruiter proved effective for sourcing talent, with a strong LinkedIn Recruiter Index (LRI) of 80% and above, KEO still faced limitations. Specifically, the talent acquisition team needed analytical data to help make important decisions ahead of time. Without effective data on market trends, the company was often forced to urgently fill roles when potentially there may have been more suitable candidates located elsewhere globally. Additionally, without data-driven insights into regions where talent supply exceeded demand, KEO missed opportunities in "hidden gem" locations that were rich with potential candidates.
Moving nimbly and efficiently in an ever-evolving market
KEO wanted to optimise its performance by utilising real-time analytics in order to better react to market trends and to position itself even further ahead of the curve.
Without data, management was unable to build a strong case for stakeholders to switch strategy and move with the market, causing further blocks and slowdowns. But, as technology continues to advance and workforces become more globalised, KEO needed to build a workforce that could keep up with new skills and capabilities.
An opportunity for more internal mobility
KEO wanted to maximise opportunities for its internal candidates so that they could develop in their roles and progress within the organisation. But the talent acquisition team knew that this could potentially be a manual, time-consuming process without some assistance.
Using Talent Insights, KEO were able to identify internal candidates who were a great fit for vacancies which they may not have otherwise proposed for the position.
THE SOLUTION
Adopt LinkedIn Talent Insights (LTI) to boost overall efficiency
Streamline the recruitment process
Given that its biggest challenge was accessing informative data to help find (then retain) specialised talent, the talent acquisition team in KEO adopted LinkedIn Talent Insights (LTI)—a solution for businesses that offers insights on three key areas: hiring, market and candidate. LTI can identify global talent hotspots and has advanced search capabilities, meaning KEO was able to minimise the time to fill roles significantly. Plus, by providing real-time data on global market trends, LTI helped KEO make anticipated and informed decisions that aligned with industry shifts, ensuring they remain competitive.
Understand its workforce through skills, not job role
With skill-based analysis powered by LTI, the talent acquisition team could better identify internal candidates suitable for new roles—an outcome that facilitated career growth opportunities and reduced turnover rates as employees saw potential within the company.
A phased rollout strategy
To secure buy-in from key stakeholders, KEO talent acquisition team adopted a phased rollout strategy in which they first identified its key challenges through an in-depth analysis conducted by its HR and recruitment team and aligned the LTI initiative with the company’s strategic objectives. They then initiated a pilot programme to test its functionalities, evaluating its success with key metrics such as time-to-fill and candidate quality. The success of the pilot gave stakeholders the confidence to proceed to a full LTI contract.
Work with LinkedIn to ensure continued success
As KEO’s consultative partner, teams at LinkedIn worked with the HR and recruitment team to ensure they got the maximum value of LTI, offering guidance and best practices in addition to customised training sessions. The talent acquisition team also received user guides, tutorials, access to webinars, ongoing training on new features, and technical support to ensure seamless integration with KEO’s systems. Finally, LinkedIn helped KEO establish KPIs to measure the impact of LTI on its objectives and regular check-ins were scheduled to review performance and adjust strategies if needed.
Main product used:
Hiring Enterprise Program
THE RESULTS
- 461 new hires last year.
- 6% growth last year.
- A small 9% attrition rate globally.
About KEO:
From shaping iconic skylines to crafting sustainable communities, KEO builds legacies for a better tomorrow. With a 60-year legacy and over 2,600 multi-national professionals across two continents, it draws upon its unmatched expertise to deliver tailored solutions that exceed expectations. KEO is a highly integrated and agile creative AEP/PMCM firm where innovation is a way of life. ENR has consistently ranked KEO among the Top 225 International Design Firms and Top 20 International PM/CM Firms for two decades. KEO has also been ranked among the largest global architecture firms and the #1 firm in the Middle East Region for three consecutive years.
INDUSTRY
Construction
No. OF EMPLOYEES:
2,600
HEADQUARTERS
Kuwait
Interested in a LinkedIn Talent Solutions product?
Want to learn more about our hiring tools? Let us help:
Want to learn more about our hiring tools? Let us help: