Trends in Talent Recruitment and Retention in Montreal

Tell us more about Cofomo and what it does in Montreal.

Thanks again, Tim. Cofomo was founded in 1995. We are a well-established consulting firm in Montreal. We have close to 300 consultants working for us right now in three offices: Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa. We offer consulting services to medium to large-sized companies in Montreal and cover a lot of sectors such as public transportation, banking, insurance, government and more. We can do anything from A to Z for a company. We can come in, plan a strategy with a company according to their business needs and can help them either put the strategy in place or recommend solutions so that they can attain their goals.

What is unique about the quality of talent found in Montreal and what other advantages does the city offer companies?

Montreal has the most multicultural population in Canada. There are more than 100 languages spoken in Montreal. Montreal is considered one of the most bilingual cities in the country. 

“It is easier for a company to establish themselves in Montreal because they face fewer challenges recruiting like-minded individuals in such a diverse city.”

Montreal is considered one of the European cities in North America as well. People tend to do business with people that have similarities with them. It is easier for a company to establish themselves in Montreal because they face fewer challenges recruiting like-minded individuals in such a diverse city. You will have fewer challenges recruiting in Montreal as there is a higher likelihood for you to find people who are closer to what you are familiar with. The culture of Montreal is quite close to that of Europe. Montreal is also a technology hub and as such companies can benefit from our talent having acquired experience here in highly efficient companies already.

How have digital transformation trends changed the skills required to succeed? 

COVID-19 changed reality profoundly. COVID-19 forced us to become digital quickly to the point that all aspects of a company are impacted by digital transformation. For example, if you want to put servers in place and implement cloud computing, you will require a tremendous amount of different kinds of knowledge. First, you will need to have a solutions architect to put the strategy in place and recommend solutions. You will also need a cloud expert who will help you work with different technologies. There is also the need for a systems administrator who will put everything in place and maintain it all. Security experts are also needed to tell you how to secure your data. All skills to do with IT are in high demand right now because of digital transformation and that is not about to change.

What has been the impact of COVID-19 and remote work on talent recruitment? 

COVID-19 profoundly changed the way we work and recruit. COVID-19 has resulted in a shorter and faster recruitment and hiring cycle. We have had to reinvent ourselves in the way we approach candidates and evaluate their know-how. Recruiters have instincts on what a candidate can and cannot do. They can evaluate someone’s know-how very quickly when there is direct interaction with a candidate. However,  we have had to find other ways to do that.

We also have to find other ways to gain candidates’ loyalty. Today, it is more difficult to establish human interaction because we all went virtual. Everything is happening with a significant amount of distance so it is more difficult. 

“COVID-19 has given companies access to candidates they never would have considered thanks to the virtual aspect.”

COVID-19 has given companies access to candidates they never would have considered thanks to the virtual aspect. This includes international recruitments as there are no boundaries anymore. We can talk to a candidate in Asia or Africa, which was not necessarily possible before. With the immigration policies that we have today, we can make it all happen.

Why should foreign investors consider Montreal as their next destination?

I would emphasize our diversity. Montreal is one of the most diverse cities in Canada. You have direct access to the North American market when you come to Montreal. We are highly multilingual and we are one of the safest cities in America. There are financial supports for companies that want to establish their headquarters in Montreal. The lifestyle in Montreal is incredible as well. Companies will have great access to a pool of highly educated professionals in diverse sectors. Montreal is the place to be.