HR Glossary

Lateral Hiring

Lateral hiring refers to recruiting talents from outside the organization to fill specialized/difficult roles immediately.

Lateral Hiring

Lateral hiring, also known as direct hiring, occurs when there is a difficult-to-fill role that needs to be filled with a candidate possessing experience or expertise in handling similar roles. This hiring method contradicts traditional entry-level hiring because the open position demands quick action and immediate contribution. Lateral hiring is particularly common in industries where candidates with specific skills are prioritized, such as healthcare, technology, and finance. Such hiring strategies are mostly employed for senior-level or executive roles for which expertise is inevitable. Usually, recruiters performing lateral hiring target passive candidates who handle similar roles in other organizations and offer appealing salary or compensation packages to attract them.

Use cases:

Lateral Hiring is a proven strategic approach to secure skilled professionals, specifically in industries with high competition and talent shortages. Performing lateral hiring will ensure the organization’s resource requirements are met timely and efficiently. Some organizations employ lateral hiring to welcome external perspectives on operations so that insights can be drawn to improve their strategies and productivity. Knowledge transfer and mentoring can be facilitated through lateral hiring. The lateral hiring mechanism also helps in cherishing Diversity and Inclusion within the organization, as it brings professionals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ultimately, a lateral hiring approach can be utilized to fill skills gaps, drive innovation, and accelerate organizational growth

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