Janelle Crowley will be teaching Recruitment and Retention Strategies at NIU Naperville on April 23. We spoke to Janelle to learn more about the course and some of her top tips for organizations working on recruitment and retention.
Janelle Crowley, Ph.D., currently serves as the Chief of Staff for Governors State University. She has served as the chief human resources officer (CHRO) for higher education in Wisconsin and Illinois, where she provided leadership and management for organizations from 1,200 to 3,400 employees. As a human resource professional, she also had oversight as the ethics officer for Emergency Preparedness and Law Enforcement. Janelle honed her craft in human resources at Northwestern University, Center for Public Safety, where she served as an adjunct faculty member for fifteen years.
Learn more about Janelle on the CLA website.
Why is it important for organizations to think proactively about employee recruitment and retention?
It is extremely important for organizations to be proactive in attracting quality employees, which helps with retention. There can be significant costs for a high turnover, which can range from 50 – 200% of an employee’s salary, let alone the loss of productivity. Top quality employees enhance creativity, innovation and productivity, which directly affects the bottom line. Continuity, coupled with a stable workforce, helps with the culture and maintains institutional knowledge, which can be of value to any organization.
Which is more important: recruitment or retention — and why?
In short, retention builds a stronger return on the initial investment and provides compounding benefits, especially if the right person is in the right fit for the position.
Do you have a story you can share about an organization that took a creative approach to recruitment/retention?
I do have a number of stories that I can share; however, the core of creative approaches is to have a leadership team who understands what it can do for an organization, and whether it will provide a direct return. I will be happy to share some of these stories during the Recruitment and Retention Strategies course on April 23, 2025!
What’s your top piece of advice for organizations concerned about recruitment and retention?
It is important for employees to feel valued, challenged and aligned to a mission that they truly believe in, which in my mind, is an inclusive work environment. Purpose and a positive culture can boost deeper engagement.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
Understanding that both recruitment and retention are important in today’s working world, I would be remiss if I did not include consideration on how the workplace has changed, is changing, how the multi-generational workforce requires different approaches, and the fundamental value of work-life balance – for everyone.
Learn more and register for Recruitment and Retention Strategies on the CLA website.
