Hiring Smarter: A Self-Assessment to Level Up Your Talent Strategy
In school districts across Ohio, attracting and retaining high-quality educators is more than just an HR goal—it is a student success strategy.
As part of the Ohio Human Capital Resource Center’s The Heart of It All: Recruiting & Retaining Educators for Ohio Students training series, district leaders are encouraged to take a strategic, data-informed approach to building strong education teams.
But here is the big question many school leaders are asking—Are our current hiring practices really working?
“If you have ever wondered the same, you are not alone,” said Experience Management Institute Vice President of Engagement Kim Ratcliff. By building your awareness of your current state, you can bridge to a better future for talent acquisition.”
Awareness is the First Step
Ohio schools are navigating a competitive talent landscape. With fewer candidates entering the educator pipeline and increasing pressure to support student outcomes, every hire counts. Effective hiring is not about filling open positions with whoever is available. It is about making smart, strategic choices that shape the future of your district. Unfortunately, many schools and districts still rely on traditional or reactive methods to manage recruitment. That’s where the Talent Acquisition Self-Assessment comes in—a practical, free resource.
This free tool is designed to help you reflect honestly on your current practices, highlight areas for growth, and map out next steps. Whether you are a superintendent, HR director, principal, or aspiring leader, this self-assessment offers a meaningful starting point.
What Is the Talent Acquisition Self-Assessment?
Built around key principles of strategic hiring, the self-assessment helps school teams evaluate how well they are performing across a range of talent acquisition practices. Using a simple 1–5 scale, you will rate how accurately your current systems reflect best practices in:
Workforce planning
Targeted recruitment
Equitable and effective hiring processes
There is no pressure to get it perfect. This tool is about progress, not perfection—and it is a great way to build a shared understanding with your team as you work toward stronger recruitment and retention strategies.
Put the Assessment to Work
Once you complete the self-assessment, you will gain a visual snapshot of your district’s current state. This data can help guide and shape future policy decisions or inform professional development needs for your team. It is also a great conversation starter. When everyone—HR, administrators, board members—uses the same language around hiring strategy, collaboration becomes smoother, and change becomes more actionable.
Whether your results show strengths to build on or gaps to address, the important thing is to use the insights to inform your next steps. The Talent Acquisition Self-Assessment is your map, not your report card. It helps you understand where you are today—and how to move forward with intention.
Ready to Level Up?
Use this self-assessment in conjunction with other resources from The Heart of It All: Recruiting & Retaining Educators for Ohio Students series. It is a practical, research-informed way to take control of your hiring strategy and make a lasting impact on your students and schools.
