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5 HR & Recruiting Priorities Every CEO Should Know

Sep 2nd, 2025 | Hire Wire

As Q4 approaches, CEOs face the dual challenge of meeting end-of-year goals while planning for next year’s growth. HR and recruiting strategies are central to success, but with shifting workforce expectations, tight talent markets, and changing regulations, preparation is key. Here are five priorities to help leaders ensure their teams and organizations finish the year strong.

1. Evaluate Workforce Needs
Assess your current team’s capacity and skills relative to upcoming business goals. Are there leadership gaps? Are certain skill sets in short supply? A clear understanding of workforce needs ensures you’re not reacting to staffing shortages mid-quarter.

2. Forecast Your Talent Pipeline
Identify roles with long lead times or high demand and proactively build your candidate pipeline. Partnering with executive recruiters or RaaS providers can reduce hiring friction and ensure critical roles are filled efficiently.

3. Strengthen Employee Engagement & Retention
Engaged employees perform better and stay longer. Use Q4 as a moment to check in on morale, recognition programs, and culture initiatives. Even small investments in engagement can yield large dividends in retention.

4. Leverage Data-Driven Recruiting
Review past recruitment metrics: where are candidates sourced, what roles took longest to fill, and which strategies delivered top talent? Using analytics to refine recruiting efforts can save time and improve hiring outcomes.

5. Review HR Compliance & Policies
Ensure your HR policies, DEI initiatives, and labor compliance measures are up-to-date. This protects your business from risk and positions your company as a responsible employer, a key factor in attracting top talent.


Q4 is the ideal time for CEOs to take a strategic approach to HR and recruiting. By focusing on these five priorities, you can align your workforce with business objectives, retain your top performers, and prepare for a strong start to next year.

At The O’Connor Group, we help executives implement flexible HR and recruiting strategies, fractional, interim, or project-based, to ensure every team is set up for success. Contact us today to learn how we can help you navigate Q4 and beyond.

This information is provided for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice. The O’Connor Group makes no representations as to the completeness, suitability, or validity of any information contained herein and will not be liable for any errors or omissions.

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