Working for an industry-leading organization with sustained revenue growth is a fortunate opportunity. However, this is not the reality for many, as businesses experience fluctuations due to various factors. Macroeconomic and political conditions, competitive advancements, new market entrants, and misalignment with consumer needs can all impact an organization’s success. Regardless, it is essential to remain vigilant if the organization exhibits consistent downward trends.
Having had the privilege of working for various global companies across multiple industry sectors, I have witnessed, throughout my 20 years of experience in People and Talent Management, the negative bias that can arise during the hiring process. Candidates from organizations experiencing downturns often face prejudice, particularly within the same industry sector. In some cases, hiring leaders explicitly request not to consider individuals from specific companies, associating them with the overall decline of their current or former employer.
I am not justifying these practices, but I want to bring attention to the fact that such considerations often arise during the hiring process. Organizations and hiring leaders are highly attuned to their industry landscape, with strategic functions that continuously analyze competitors and peers for business insights. Just as companies facing consistent decline become well-known, the opposite is also true—high-performing firms attract targeted recruitment efforts. Organizations actively seek top talent from successful competitors, aiming to acquire their brightest minds and gain insights into their competitive advantages.
While many are more familiar with the advantages of being recruited from a successful organization, I want to highlight the potential challenges of being employed by a company experiencing consistent decline. This can have significant implications for future job opportunities if one is not strategically mindful. In a highly competitive job market, candidates must be aware of these dynamics to ensure their long-term employability and ability to compete effectively.
