Staffing.org's 2008 Recruiting Metrics and Performance Benchmark Report just came out based on results from 20 industry groups with data covering 1,000 companies. The report reveals some key trends.

Here is a quick summary of the pluses and minuses:

+ “Internal trends include metrics, business alignment, access to management, and technology.”

– “Fewer than half of all employers reconcile candidate qualifications with what they originally sought.”

The pluses show that the strategy of talent management has taken hold and is understood in HR and at the executive table. Investments in talent technology have paid off. But there is definitely more work to do.

Clearly, getting the best talent through creative sourcing and attracting talent from the career site through an automated process remains the primary tactical focus. But the career site must deliver a high quality experience and effectively market your employment brand. And—to deliver value to the business—the quality of hire loop must be closed through unified recruiting and performance management.