Where Business Meets Behavior
Earlier in my career, I tried to explain my fascination with work to people. I started working at 14 and had more jobs by 22 than most people have their entire lives. I blame my parents, partly. They made the mistake of teaching me the value of hard work. What I started to understand–as I moved from lifeguard to customer service representative to telemarketer–that the success of the work we do is based on how we behave and interact with ...
Why Start-Ups Matter to HR
Last week, my colleague Rajiv wrote about why start-ups need to care about HR. Newsflash–that sentiment goes both ways. HR needs to care about entrepreneurs too. If you’re in HR, you’ve heard of SHRM–the Society for Human Resource Management. You might even be a member. While I’m certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), I’ve let my long-time SHRM membership lapse even though my home office is only a few blocks from SHRM. Here’s why–I’m an entrepreneur.
Covering Talent Issues: A Reporter’s Perspective
I sit on the Board of our local talent acquisition non-profit group, RecruitDC. And since the inception, we’ve been lucky enough to have exceptional keynote speakers at each of our sell-out conferences. This year, with so many economic and government factors affecting our local talent landscape, we’re taking a different approach. Washington Post reporter Sarah Halzack will lead a panel of executive HR leaders to address some of these issues. Halzack, a Capital Business Reporter and Web Editor for the Post, has ...
Please Stop Hiring Rockstars
When I think of “rockstar,” I think of Mick Jagger, Slash, James Hetfield, Ozzy Osbourne, Adam Levine. I think of long hair, tattoos, decibels, backstage mayhem, and decibels. “It’s Freedom Rock, turn it up.” When I search “rockstar,” I get energy drinks, Rolling Stone, a gaming company and “rockstar abs.” To be a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rockstar, think talent and longevity. To be inducted you had to have been in the business for at least 25 years. ...
Employee Engagement: Can Data Save Your Organization?
As the economy continued to tank in 2011 and 2012, employee engagement dropped with it. Down economies often impact organizational loyalty in a negative way and Mercer’s 2012 report confirms that. According to the report, 24% of organizations are reporting lowered engagement up from 13% just two years ago. And while organizations continue to invest in employee engagement, or some form of loyalty strengthening activities, popular HR analysts and bloggers are challenging the notion of engagement score value. Companies do care about employee feedback: 96% of Fortune 100 companies and 65% of mid-sized companies use some sort of employee survey. But is fighting for increased engagement scores a good use of executive time and attention? And are increased scores really that valuable to your business?
How to Really Find the Best Talent: Meet the Author of The Rare Find
A recruiter’s job description can be narrowed down pretty simply: find the very best talent. And that’s what we all aim to do. We experiment with different search tools, search strings and partners day in and day out. And while technologies have changed, our methods really haven’t. We want that perfect fit.
QUIPS #2: Brand Ambassadors
exaqueo recently introduced QUIPS: QUIck Problem Solving. These are quick ways to begin to address and solve common talent challenges. You may not have the resources to hire a consultant or tackle the challenge holistically. But you can take some steps on your own. In our first QUIPS we talked about quick ways to address the candidate experience problem. Now, in QUIPS #2, we’re tackling brand ambassadors. Everyone knows they’re good for business, but you can’t just pick and choose who plays ...
A Gold Isn’t Guaranteed: Why Skills Are Only Half Of the Equation
As the London Olympics continue on, we’re glued to our televisions, mesmerized by feats of power, athleticism and raw skill. In particular, watching gymnastics always results in shock and awe: “did a fifteen-year old really do that?” Yesterday, the women competed in the individual vault event and American McKayla Maroney was the overwhelming favorite to win gold. So overwhelming, that the announcers couldn’t stop talking about the “inevitable” win. And then she didn’t.
Why Employer Brands Need Personal Brands
When companies think employer brand, they’re thinking big picture. They start by trying to get a sense of their reputation in the marketplace. What do job seekers think about their employment opportunities and the employment experience? Most employers look for a story to create (and hint, it’s usually the one they want to tell.) But Oscar Wilde once said “society exists only as a mental concept; in the real world there are only individuals.” He’s right. That’s the real employer ...
The University of Sumser
Class is in session at the University of Sumser where the Dean is opposed to idea that there is a quick fix to everything. If you’ve taken a class here before, you know that staunch opinion and firm beliefs always make an appearance. But there’s always an interesting discussion in the works.