Developments from the Staffing Industry Daily News and The Staffing Stream to help you focus on emerging movements that could shape your business for the better.
Lessons From a War Hero
How the story of an athlete-turned-POW can inspire professionals.
I just finished reading Laura Hillenbrand’s best-seller Unbroken, which is about Louis Zamperini, a man who triumphed through unbelievable adversity, especially when he served in World War II. Zamperini’s life story is so incredible, and it dawned on me that his approach to life is similar to an engaged employee’s approach to work. For example:
Mentorship. One of the keys to Zamperini’s success was the mentorship provided by his brother. … All of the best-in-class companies I have worked with over the years encouraged both meaningful mentorship and continuous improvement. In both personal and professional worlds, it helps when someone takes a genuine interest in us, and pushes us to see what we can accomplish.
A Positive Disposition. During WWII, when his B-24 crashed into the Pacific Ocean, he remained positive that he would eventually be rescued or reach land — and he did, to be imprisoned in a Japanese camp. While I don’t mean to compare the work environment to a prison camp … the professional world can be incredibly difficult at times. But engaged employees manage to maintain a positive outlook, and it serves them well.
Having Fun. Zamperini leveraged the art of having fun, another key to building world-class engagement. … Sometimes having fun is seen as the opposite of being productive, but it’s actually closely tied to productivity and engagement. Top companies are increasingly making fun a priority within their culture.
Rising Above. In the end, Unbroken is about eschewing victim- hood and embracing forgiveness. … Having a positive work (and life) experience is often about rising above challenges, and the people who challenge you. Instead of focusing on the negatives, you can become a happier person by focusing on the positives, and all of the great things still in store for you.
Source: “Lessons From a War Hero,” The Staffing Stream, by Kevin Sheridan, author and CEO, Kevin Sheridan LLC.
We’re Number 4, Up From 9
The United States ranked fourth in producing, retaining and attracting talent.
According to the second edition of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index, the United States ranked fourth in producing, retaining and attracting talent, behind Switzerland, Singapore and Luxembourg. Canada came in fifth. This marks an improvement from a No. 9 ranking the US earned in last year’s index.
Temp Hiring to Grow
US employers plan to hire more temporary workers in 2015.
More US employers plan to hire temporary workers in 2015 than planned such hires heading into 2014, according to CareerBuilder’s job forecast for 2015. The forecast’s survey found 46% of employers plan to hire temporary or contract workers in 2015, up from 42 percent in last year’s survey.
In addition, 56 percent of employers hiring temporary workers plan to transition some into full-time, permanent employees.
Improve Recruitment
It may be time to let go of some of the old methods, try something new.
Recruiting top talent can be arduous and expensive, and today more than ever staffing firms and human resource professionals need visibility into cost and time spent on the process to eliminate inefficiencies and potential leakages from the bottom line.
Unfortunately, many companies don’t have the right insight about how to make their recruitment more efficient. But with these four simple tips, it’s possible for a company’s recruitment process to improve by leaps and bounds.
Go more in-depth on job posting. A job posting should include: Types of beneficial training, the day-to-day tasks that will be performed by the recruit, and even what will be expected from the candidate in the first few months on the job. More focused listings will attract higher-quality employees.
Don’t get married to face-to-face recruitment. Video interviewing is a unique advancement that allows recruiters to speak with potential candidates without even having to be in the office, saving energy and costs in a variety of areas.
Don’t shy away from recruitment tests. Applicant tests, such as those related to math acuity, IQ scores, typing, foreign language, and even general knowledge, are invaluable tools and should not be overlooked when a client requests them. It might seem time- consuming, but in the end, such tests will result in better-quality hires.
Don’t be afraid to reach out. Revisiting former top-tier candidates is a great way to expedite and improve recruiting. Similarly, it never hurts to get referrals from current employees, who know what it takes to be successful in the job.
Source: “4 Ways to Improve Your Recruitment Process Right Now,” The Staffing Stream, by Christopher Young, CEO, Async Interview.
