“When talent is in short supply, hiring only to fill specific job openings might be an outdated concept. Instead, employers that find a candidate with the rare blend of soft skills and technical knowledge are snapping them up, even if there isn’t a job opening that requires the person’s specific skill set and experience.

This approach is similar to the tactic taken by many professional sports teams, which add “the best available athlete,” even if the player doesn’t fill an immediate need.”