Tag: talent acquisition

Why Recruiters Should Be Hiring People They Wouldn’t Be Friends With

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image_018According to Joel Peterson, the Chairman of JetBlue Airways, the first mistake in recruitment is hiring someone just like you [1]. When making friends, it might be natural to gravitate toward people who look like you, went to the same school as you or are the same gender. In the workplace, however, recruiters should be hiring people from diverse backgrounds, even if they might not be friends in a different setting.

Diverse Groups Can Solve Tougher Problems

A study put forth through the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that diverse groups are better at solving complex problems than homogeneous but high-performing groups [2]. Hiring qualified candidates is key, but so is hiring a diverse team with a range of backgrounds and experiences that can add value to problem solving.

Diversity is a Key Driver of Innovation

A recent Forbes study showed how a diverse workforce can greatly increase innovative ideas [3]. Thinking outside of the box is easier if every member of the team has a unique worldview. The same study revealed that feelings of inclusion may encourage team members to work harder and prove their worth through innovative ideas and an increased drive to perform at the highest level.

A Diverse Group Can Attract a Larger Consumer Demographic

The Center for American Progress believes that a diverse workplace can bring about a number of economic benefits, just one of which is appealing to a larger consumer demographic [4]. A team with varied and diverse upbringings, cultures, ethnicities, genders and life experiences will be able to utilize these differences to create advertising campaigns that reach a bigger percentage of the total population. This, in turn, can increase consumers, users and profits for any given company.

Diverse Hiring Practices Means a Wider Hiring Pool

When recruiters expand their scope to include candidates they wouldn’t normally be friends with, they are widening the hiring pool significantly. At the same time, Glassdoor reveals that recruiters may have an easier time attracting top talent if they have a diverse workforce, which is a plus for many candidates at the highest level [5].

[1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130529070259-11846967-top-10-hiring-mistakes-1-hiring-yourself

[2] http://vserver1.cscs.lsa.umich.edu/~spage/pnas.pdf

[3] http://images.forbes.com/forbesinsights/StudyPDFs/Innovation_Through_Diversity.pdf

[4] https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/labor/news/2012/07/12/11900/the-top-10-economic-facts-of-diversity-in-the-workplace/

[5] http://www.glassdoor.com/press/twothirds-people-diversity-important-deciding-work-glassdoor-survey-2/

Ways to Minimize the Expense of Hiring New Employees

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image_04Hiring new employees can be a substantial drain on profits for any business. The Wall Street Journal addresses an obvious tactic that could be of help: Reducing employee turnover [1]. Fewer departures mean fewer new hires, which can save a company money in the long run. Regardless of turnover, however, businesses will always need to make staffing changes. Here are key suggestions that can minimize the expense of hiring new employees.

Utilize Social Media to Attract Talent

A study conducted by the Center for American Progress shows that companies pay an average of 21.4 percent of an employee’s annual salary while trying to hire their replacement [2]. Part of this expense is the retraining period, paying a temporary replacement and setting aside time for interviews. To cut costs in other areas, consider utilizing free social media to attract talent. Posting about available jobs on a Facebook page or through Twitter and Instagram can reach a large audience and provide immediate feedback.

Hire From Within

Susan Adams, writing for Forbes, believes that hiring candidates from within rather than from outside the company can be a smart way to cut costs [3]. Not only will hiring from within mean less time recruiting, interviewing and processing applications, but internal hires often receive lower salaries. Promoting from within can create stronger company loyalty, which means fewer promoted employees heading to competing firms in the years ahead.

Limit Your Scope to Local Candidates

Limiting recruiting to a local area can feel like limiting the field, and it may not be recommended for top-level or niche positions. For the bulk of new recruits, however, it can be an easy way to cut costs. As an Inc article points out, recruiting from a local area means that checking references is simpler, and relocation costs won’t be a concern [4].

Reduce Time to Hire by Speeding Up the Interview and Screening Processes

An easy way to reduce cost per hire is by reducing the time per hire. Don’t drag out the process any longer than it needs to be. Screen applicants in bulk and schedule back-to-back interviews. Monster suggests giving recruiters lots of details and feedback so that they can source the top talent more efficiently [5].

[1] http://guides.wsj.com/management/recruiting-hiring-and-firing/how-to-reduce-employee-turnover/

[2] https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/labor/report/2012/11/16/44464/there-are-significant-business-costs-to-replacing-employees/

[3] http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/04/05/why-promoting-from-within-usually-beats-hiring-from-outside/

[4] http://www.inc.com/john-greathouse/5-reasons-to-hire-locally-no-matter-where-you-are.html

[5] http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/recruiting-hiring-advice/managing-hiring-costs/reducing-time-to-hire-checklist.aspx

How to Get Employees Excited About Your Company’s Brand Image

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image_29Forbes reminds businesses that strong brands aren’t created exclusively in the marketing department [1]. Instead, every employee in the company contributes to its brand and image. Having employees who fulfill their contractual obligations is a far cry from employees who act as brand ambassadors even when they are off the clock. These suggestions help get employees excited about your company’s brand image.

Involving Employees in Social Media Campaigns

Employees have a unique and credible position in social media. Unlike executives or owners, who the public may believe have an agenda, employees can feel like a more realistic, friendly and legitimate source of information. That’s why it is so important to have employees feel free to contribute to and participate in social media campaigns. At Nokia, for example, employees are encouraged to talk about the brand on personal social media, and they have the freedom to give their honest opinions [2]. Social media expert Jenny Kuglin also suggests having staff take photos at work, during holiday parties or whenever something exciting happens involving the brand [3]. Using these photos on social media is a captivating way to show the genuine side of the brand, and it also excites the employee who took the picture.

Give Employees Product or Service Discounts and Perks

Small Business Trends pinpoints one of the key ways to generate interest in a brand: provide employees with discounts to offer friends and family [4]. This makes employees feel like an insider with valuable information, which in turn makes them more likely to speak positively about the brand. Those who receive the discount will have a better overall experience to know they got a deal, which keeps the positive momentum going.

Recognize Their Efforts

Turning employees into brand ambassadors and making them feel genuinely excited about the brand is not an easy task. When it does happen, reinforce what a great thing it is by recognizing the employee. According to Entrepreneur, this could be as simple as commemorative shirts for staff or a mention at a meeting if someone gets positive attention for the brand on social media [5].

Together, these tips can be integral in getting employees excited about your company’s brand.

 

[1] http://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2013/10/08/three-steps-for-transforming-employees-into-brand-ambassadors/

[2] http://linkhumans.com/blog/how-nokia-employees-brand-ambassadors

[3] https://www.rivaliq.com/blog/expand-your-online-branding/

[4] http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/09/turning-employees-into-brand-champions.html

[5] http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241560

Eight Roadblocks in the Search to Finding Qualified Candidates for Any Job

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image_13An open job position means that it’s only a matter of time before the resumes start flooding in. Sorting through and eliminating the candidates who aren’t the best fit can be quite the undertaking.

Here are eight roadblocks that hinder employers from finding qualified job candidates.

  1. Technology: Many big brand employers rely on tracking systems to lend a hand in the job search. Resumes are scanned for keywords, and in turn, the employer is able to quickly find candidates who meet the specifications. However, this process allows many qualified candidates to fall through the cracks.
  2. Poor Branding: The strength of your employer brand can directly link to recruiting top talent. A poor employer brand can significantly cut your talent pool in half because many people won’t want to work for a company with negative perceptions.
  3. Cultural Fit: While hiring people that fit in the company culture is great, it should not be the deciding factor. Attitude and aptitude are not synonymous. Employers should assess the candidate’s ability to do the job first, and later analyze whether they would be a good cultural fit in the company.
  4. Vague Job Description: It is important to be as detailed as possible when writing a job description. If a candidate is unsure of what the job entails, he may not apply for the position. On the other end of the spectrum, you may get resumes from a number of under-qualified people.
  5. Years of Experience: Employers often jump the gun and hire people with the most years of experience. Years of experience does not always equate the most qualified candidate.
  6. Passive Candidates: These candidates are sometimes difficult to reach because they are already employed and are not actively looking for employment. However, if the right opportunity presents itself, it is very possible to recruit a passive candidate.
  7. Recruitment Competition: With the job market continuously growing, employers may have to compete with other companies in order to recruit top talent. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to offer a higher compensation or benefits package, but if you want the best, you may have to work for it.
  8. Overly Specific Keyword Searches: Don’t make it difficult on yourself to find potential job candidates. Being too specific for keyword searches may lessen your talent pool.

The truth is qualified candidates are out there actively searching in the job market. It is your responsibility to evaluate your recruiting process and revamp it or make the necessary changes if needed.

 

Using Technology to Anticipate Your Future Hiring Needs

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image_08Whether you are a startup business or an already established company, planning ahead for the future is a necessity. Being prepared for the future means considering where your company is at today and where you would like it to be tomorrow. Find out how technology and strategic workforce planning can go hand in hand to help you anticipate your employment needs for the coming years.

Utilizing technology can make workforce planning more efficient and provide improved results. Special workforce planning software allows you to analyze your company’s current workforce trends and make educated projections for trends in the future. By plugging in internal and external data, software can help you arrive at more accurate results. Not only can software help you plan for the future, but it can also help guide you along the way by monitoring your progress and alerting you to any variations from the master plan.

Another key benefit is that software can help your company adapt to changing conditions. The talent that was critical for success a few years ago may not suffice in an environment with new challenges that demand new solutions. Workforce planning is not limited to software only, but utilizing your technological resources wisely can better support your executives, HR department, and hiring managers throughout the process. Have a one-on-one session with your IT consultant and discuss the kinds of workforce planning software that are available and which one in particular would be a good fit for your company’s needs.

In summary, using technology to plan for the future creates a culture where workforce planning is based on data and better equips executives in evaluating how changes in objectives and the environment impact staffing levels. Most importantly, approaching workforce planning in a way that fits your company’s needs and aligns with your future goals is key to a successful future.

 

Why You Should Keep Up-to-Date on Social Media for Recruiting Needs

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image_018People seeking employment are turning to corporate social media accounts to learn more about a business’s culture and environment. While traditional websites and career search boards can provide those searching for a job with nuts-and-bolts information, such as work hours and skill-set requirements, keeping up-to-date on social media allows jobseekers to gain a more complete picture of the corporation.

Cultivates Interest

Once jobseekers are certain that they meet the skill and academic credentials for a position, they next want to know whether their personality will fit well at a particular company. Current social media posts cultivate a candidate’s interest in becoming a part of the organization. By seeing that the company is up-to-date in industry trends and is building brand loyalty with its clients, candidates will be more eager to join such a company.

Engages Qualified Individuals

Today’s workers want more out of their work than just a paycheck. They want to be engaged and passionate about what they do, which is particularly true of the Millennial Generation. This generation is also the most likely to use social media to engage with potential employers.

Promotes a Team-oriented Environment

Active sourcing of job candidates through social media helps to promote the development and maintenance of a team-oriented work environment. Recruiters can show images and embed video clips of a variety of employees collaborating on projects. Social media is an efficient and effective way of showing potential staff members how current employees are working together to solve problems and showcase their talents.

Inspires a Creative Workforce

Social media is a newer way of communicating with people who are creative, highly educated and concerned about making a difference in the world. These candidates tend to think outside the box when solving problems and create a dynamic environment in which to work. Human resources staff who recruit candidates through social media are better able to promote the workplace as a creative community in which an employee’s time investment pays off through work that is satisfying personally, professionally and mentally.

 

Top Techniques for Finding the Best Candidates Before They Graduate from College

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image_017The thought of college recruiting conjures up visions of career fairs with booth after booth of local companies trying to snag the best candidates. If participation in career fairs is your entire college recruitment plan, you’re doing it wrong.

There are a number of steps to be taken prior to a career fair that will identify the best candidates before graduation day:

  • Work with the right schools – the ones with a focus on majors and skill sets that fit your hiring needs, whether you’re looking to hire accountants, engineers, or computer programmers.
  • Build a relationship with the school’s career center.
  • Identify career-related student clubs that target your ideal candidate pool and get involved with them. Offer to have one of your managers give a presentation to the club. Without revealing proprietary information, your representative could present a current issue looking for a resolution and ask the group how they would handle it.
  • Ask employees who are alumni of your target schools to get involved with the career center and student clubs. They’ll have automatic street cred because they’ll be able to identify with the students’ experiences firsthand. Offer to make a presentation to a class.
  • Make use of social media networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and make sure your website is engaging for those that want to learn more about your company. Today’s millennials want to work for tech-savvy companies. Consider making videos of employees talking about what they do, what they like about working there, and what the culture of your organization is like.
  • Create an internship program. A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers showed an overall conversion rate for turning interns into full-time employers hit an all-time high of 58.6% [1]. First, you’ll have a hard-working intern who wants to prove their value. If the intern is successful and demonstrates that they’re a good fit with the culture of your company, you have first dibs at offering them a position. However, the story doesn’t end there – you can send that individual back to their alma mater as your recruiting representative where they’ll be able to tell their own success story to hopeful applicants in the current internship program.

[1] http://webs.purduecal.edu/business/internships/facts-about-internships/

Using Social Media to Recruit the Best New Graduates

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image_01According to a report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 8.3% of employers plan to add new graduates to their employee roster in 2015 [1]. Clearly, the combination of a solid college education and experience are coveted by most employers. While some recent graduates may not have obtained much work experience, their skills and freshness are still traits that most employers want in order to strengthen their companies. While recruiting and hiring recent college graduates is nothing new, there are new methods to ensure that you hire the best.

Waiting for prospective candidates to knock on your door is not one of those methods. Instead, you must think about how you can engage this young talent to build a strong foundation for your company. Employers in NACE’s survey are catching on to what it takes to use social media as a recruitment tool. You can avoid struggling with these methods of communication by utilizing the following tips to optimize your company’s social media presence and connect with young talent.

Build an Online Employer Brand

If you have not already done so, begin posting information about your company’s culture that features recent college graduates hanging out. Prominent social media platforms are excellent ways to introduce your company. Go beyond job listings and post company events and employee photos. Blogs written from the perspective of current employees can indirectly convey to college graduates why your company is the greatest place to work.

Make Personal Connections

Introduce the names of real people behind corporate HR social media accounts. For instance, @GreatCoJobs can include a line with names of people who update your Twitter account. Another example is for each person to have their own accounts, such as @StanAtGreatCo and @MaryAtGreatCo.

You can also humanize your company’s social media presence by granting people handling different accounts the freedom to interject their own observations and personality into updates.

Provide Exclusivity

Leave job postings listed on your corporate website and use social media to give followers something that is not readily available. Contests, impromptu virtual meetups and behind-the-scene peeks at your company are diverse ways to make meaningful connections.

Invest energy, time and strategic thought into recruiting the best new graduates. Your company could reap the payoff for years to come.

[1] https://www.naceweb.org/s11122014/job-outlook-hiring-2015.aspx

 

How to Recruit, Hire, and Retain the Best of Generation Y

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image_10Generation Y, also known as the Millennial generation, are people born between the years of 1982 and 2000. This generation of workers operates under a much different life plan and moral code than their predecessors, the Baby Boomers. They’re even different from Generation X, who are currently in their prime working years. These proven strategies will help you to effectively recruit, hire and retain the best of Generation Y.

Recruiting Generation Y to Your Organization

If there is anything Generation Y is known for, it is walking to the beat of their own drummers. To find the best and brightest of Generation Y, you may need to recruit outside the “ivory tower” and look to places such as community organizations, international volunteer programs and other places where members of this generation are spending time before and after their college years.

Hiring with Purpose

During the hiring process, prepare your human resources staff for an onslaught of questions from the applicants. They will want to know their purpose in your organization and how they will fit into the culture. You’ll need to offer clear-cut explanations for not just their specific job duties, but how their work will make an impact on the world around them.

Fostering Growth and Opportunities

Members of Generation Y are committed to lifelong learning and want to be challenged in what they do. Your organization can retain these highly motivated employees by offering continuing educational opportunities as well as work-related perks such as tuition reimbursement, on-site workshops and partnerships with community organizations who can benefit from their expertise while teaching them additional skills such as creative thinking and resourcefulness.

Offer Flexibility and Alternative Reward Systems

In order to be able to maintain their outside interests, volunteer activities and continuing education, members of Generation Y want a workplace that offers flexibility. Alternative work hours other than the typical 9 to 5 business hours are key to helping members of this generation stay with your organization. Telecommuting is another option to retain these tech-savvy staff members. Also consider alternative reward systems such as more vacation time rather than bonuses.

 

How Conducting a Behavior-Based Interview Can Help You Find the Right Candidate

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image_21

How Conducting a Behavior-Based Interview Can Help You Find the Right Candidate

As the economy makes leaps and strides past recession, employers are ramping up their hiring processes in response to the surge in talent. In order to find the best candidates, many hiring managers are using behavior-based interviews. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran’s affairs, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior[1]. Consider three reasons why this interviewing process can help you find the right candidate for each of your available positions.

Identifying Essential Experience

Because what has happened in the past is highly likely to happen again, asking interviewees about their previous experiences in particular situations will help you get a grasp on how they can handle stress, deadlines and other pertinent situations. You might ask questions such as what an applicant did when other team members didn’t hold up their end of the deal on a project or how they handled an irate customer. This helps you get a feel for the applicant’s personality as well as his or her mastery of customer care and teamwork.

Capturing Skill Sets

Every job has essential skills that must be mastered in order to achieve and maintain success. To get a behavior-based idea of an applicant’s relevant skills, you could ask a question such as, “How did you increase conversions on your most recent online marketing campaign?” This type of question gives you inside perspective on a worker’s mastery of specific types of skills, their flexibility to change what isn’t working and swap it out for something else, and their willingness to work toward and achieve a goal that benefits the organization.

Meshing with the Corporate Culture

In addition to finding candidates with the right experience and skill set for the job, you’ll also want to make sure they will fit into your corporate culture. This is a fantastic time to ask hypothetical behavior-based questions, such as “What would you do if there were no supervisors in the office for an entire week, and none could be reached by electronic means?” These types of questions help you figure out who will be the most likely to succeed in your organization.

[1] http://www.va.gov/PBI/index.asp