Employment and Career Resource Blog

The gaming industry that once proclaimed itself impervious to economic downturns now finds this is no longer true.  Casinos are declaring bankruptcy and defaulting on debt, new construction is delayed, expansions are placed on hold and almost every sector of gaming is affected – from technology to pari-mutuel. As gaming company revenues decline, so does hiring. Job Boards and Executive Search firms are seeing a 50 – 75% reduction in requests for staffing services and an insurgence of job seekers. ... (more...)

With so many challenging workforce issues confronting Human Resources professionals, one might think that talent management would become less of a focus in an economic downturn; however, research shows that companies that endured times of economic crisis have the best developed strategies to manage their talent. And even though the list of HR concerns includes myriad topics such as: -       competition for skilled and experienced employees -       retention of key talent -      ... (more...)

If you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point, you know that in certain human endeavors there comes a point when the future course of events is decided. That point occurs when a critical mass of influential factors is reached, and the ensuing events are tipped in one virtually unstoppable direction. While Gladwell focused his book on product marketing, I think it holds an important message for recruitment, as well. The typical recruitment ad includes a range of information that describes... (more...)

Introduction As an employer you want to consider changes in the workforce so as to improve upon your hiring practices and to ensure that you retain the most talented employees.This article is for the employer who is interested in knowing: * what are the changes in the workforce * what they can do about it when implementing changes in their policies * how to attract and retain talented employees As an employee you want to select those companies that have taken an initiative to amend their programs... (more...)

Introduction Just as many companies utilize internal and external resources to better understand their businesses and competitors, you must do so to improve your strategy to enter into a new firm or pursue a new career. You are now in business for YOU. The business is to find a job! WHAT ARE YOU UP AGAINST? Emerging trends affect the way corporations are conducting business.For example: Globalization-As a result, there are significant changes due to world impact, such as far... (more...)

Recruiters, like all HR professionals, are under increased pressure to demonstrate their value to their organizations and customers.  It is wise to be proactive in meeting this demand: by the time senior management actually asks for a demonstration of value, it is usually too late to act – they have already made up their minds. Recruiters can take advantage of four core staffing performance metrics: Actual Time vs. Contracted Time to Start Staffing Efficiency Hiring Manager Satisfaction New... (more...)

Employee Shortage It’s no secret that there is a shortage of qualified employees in the job market. In an effort to recruit and retain good talent, employers are implementing a host of innovative strategies and are offering a myriad of perks and benefits. The perks run the gamut, from the mundane to the bizarre…legal and financial advisors, dry-cleaning and house cleaning services, hair stylists, pet insurance, corporate lactation programs, elder-care referral services, gym subsidies,... (more...)

When asked “Which tool do you believe can best help you meet your [recruiting] goals over the next year,” 20% of the respondents to a recent survey conducted by Yahoo! cited better screening tools, 17% pointed to improved candidate tracking, and a whopping 63% said that what they needed most was a clear talent management strategy. That’s a pretty strong consensus (at least, in our field!), but what exactly is “a clear talent management strategy?” What are its components... (more...)

The unemployment rate is gradually rising showing the first sign that the economy is clearing its volatility hurdle.  This sudden rise can also be contributed to the numerous layoffs in the last six to eight months.  Companies who laid off thousands at the start of 2001 are scheduling another round for later this year. Employees are sometimes shocked and dismayed by these unforeseen layoffs.  The truth is a layoff or shutdown is generally not some hidden secret. Problem signs… A company does... (more...)

Internet etiquette improves the legibility of your correspondence, increases your efficiency and protects your company from liability… Many of us start our business day by turning on our computer and retrieving our email. Most of what flows into our In-boxes is a combination of spam, unsolicited promotional offers, friends who are checking-in, and business-related correspondence. The challenge is to delete the unwanted garbage, determine which emails are important and respond to them in priority... (more...)