Recruiting Edge

IT JOBS- IS THE RECESSION OVER?

2010-04-09T15:27:00.000+05:30

The worst of the recession has now passed with the number of jobs in IT increasing.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) in a report released jointly with the accountancy firm KPMG said “the worst of the recession has now passed and that the number of IT jobs — permanent and contract — is rising”

The report stated out of the 8 sectors surveyed 'IT and computing' was the fastest growing sector for permanent jobs in the UK.

According to Sean Gallagher, board director of the REC, there was particular demand for business analysts, software analysts, project managers and those with skills in software testing and SharePoint, Microsoft's collaboration software.

However, despite the increase in demand for IT professionals, the salary levels are stagnating with no clear sign of revival

Malaysian Government Guidelines for job-seekers

2010-04-06T17:50:00.000+05:30

Job-seekers planning to take-up employment in Malaysia should familiarise themselves with the laws and working conditions in Malaysia.

The recent employment guidelines issued by the government makes it clear that job-seekers planning to either emigrate to Malaysia or take up employment in Malaysia should do so only after getting the proper documentation.

It also draws attention to the fact that job-seekers should obtain a resident permit or ID/Labour card and carry a copy of their passport at all times.

High-tech job market recovery in 2010?

2009-12-28T09:16:00.000+05:30

Will the high-tech job market recover because recruitment in Internet companies recovered towards the end of 2009?

"The high-tech job market had a tough year, but we're sensing a recovery toward the end of the year. We'll probably see the recovery continue into the beginning of 2010, mainly thanks to strong demand for workers in various Internet fields," says Nisha Group says CEO Paule Tzuker.

Let us hope this is not misplaced confidence.

The Directory Of Executive & Professional Recruiters 2009-2010 (Directory of Executive Recruiters)

Management consultancy jobs to rebound in 2010

2009-12-24T09:49:00.003+05:30

U K specialist recruitment firm Mindbench anticipates a rebound in management consultancy and hiring by consulting firms.Management Consultancy, 2nd Edition

Recruiters expect recruitment to rebound in the management consultancy sector in 2010.

Recruitment is already back on the agenda for most consulting firms and will become more important as 2010 progresses. “Big 4” consulting firms have already signaled that they intend to make hundreds of consulting hires each next year, and strategy firms and boutiques are increasing their headcount demands. Due to redundancies and restructuring this year, there is much less “spare capacity” within the consulting firms. Retention will become a major challenge from 2010. Whilst during the down turn consultants were generally content to stay put - often with diminished career prospects, salary freezes and bonus waivers - as the market turns and opportunities increase, retaining quality staff will be much harder.

The Directory Of Executive & Professional Recruiters 2009-2010 (Directory of Executive Recruiters)

Companies with best talent management programs perform better.

2009-12-23T16:12:00.000+05:30

Image by CIPD via Flickr

Talent management is a critical part of the corporate performance equation. However, until now there was only anecdotal evidence to back this belief.

The Talent Management Handbook: Creating Organizational Excellence by Identifying, Developing, and Promoting Your Best People

The Hackett Group's Talent Management Performance Study was conducted to addresses this lacunae. The study gathered both quantitative and qualitative data showing the enterprise financial, operational and process performance payoff from talent management.

As expected, the research found that companies with more mature talent management capabilities reap strong bottom-line benefits, including earnings that are 18 percent higher than similarly structured companies.

Optimum talent management enabled them to generate an additional $673 million in additional EBITDA earnings for a typical Global 1000 company (with $26.38 billion in revenue).

Recruiting more Diverse Staff

2009-12-22T11:53:00.000+05:30

Image via Wikipedia

Recruiting and retaining under represented minorities and retaining multi-cultural employee mix presents a huge challenge for any organization.

It has been noticed that in the past few years the number of women employees and underrepresented minorities has declined.

This lack of diversity particularly in the IT departments is a worrying trend.

Experts believe that this worrying trend is going to get worse and drastic steps and a more inclusive recruiting process are needed to increase diversity recruiting.

Here are seven practical steps that organizations and recruiters can take to recruit and retain more women and underrepresented minorities.

Workers face pay freeze in 2010

2009-12-21T20:23:00.000+05:30

Workers are facing pay freezes in 2010 for the second year running, the Confederation of British Industry warned yesterday.

Although it expects the country to emerge from recession during the final three months of this year, employers are likely to refuse pay rises as unemployment continues to rise until next autumn.

More here.

The Directory Of Executive & Professional Recruiters 2009-2010 (Directory of Executive Recruiters)

Recruiting through social media?

2009-12-19T07:31:00.000+05:30

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Recruiting employees through social media is becoming increasingly popular for recruiters across all industries.

However with Facebook & Twitter et al proving a low-cost option, organisations, must ensure they are using best practice when scrutinising candidates, otherwise, they might overlook suitable applicants.

Hence companies need to have a designated team or person in charge of online recruitment strategies, with a clear plan or objective, targeted at the right people. Once this is established, social media requires interaction. As soon as a business begins recruiting using social media, it is very difficult to withdraw that facility. Businesses must be clear on what they are trying to achieve and ensure the company has sufficient resources to handle the extra workload.

More here.

Online Recruiting - How to Use the Internet to Find Your Best Hires

Jobless workers suffer trauma

2009-12-16T18:24:00.000+05:30

Image by khalilshah via Flickr

A New York Times/ CBS news poll reveals that the 10 % of able jobless American’s suffer long-term effects from prolonged unemployment.

The poll results suggests anxiety is high, optimism low, with 71 percent of the unemployed rating their financial situation as now "very or fairly bad" and 75 percent saying they consider it "very or somewhat likely" that their unemployment benefits will run out before they find a job.

The Directory Of Executive & Professional Recruiters 2009-2010 (Directory of Executive Recruiters)

Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf 2009 – 2010

2009-12-11T19:16:00.000+05:30

GulfTalent.com’s fifth annual report "Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf 2009 – 2010" has just been released.

The report, which is published every year at around this time, is one of the most respected and widely read sources of research on employment and salary trends in the region, used extensively by policy makers, business leaders and working professionals. Key highlights of the report include:

Average pay rises in the Gulf dropped to 6.2% in 2009, from 11.4% last year
Audit professionals enjoyed the highest average pay rise across the region.
Almost two-thirds of professionals in the Gulf did not get any pay rise this year
Around 10% of professionals in the Gulf have been made redundant this year
Salaries in the Gulf are forecast to rise 6.3% in 2010

The Directory Of Executive & Professional Recruiters 2009-2010 (Directory of Executive Recruiters)

Giving Enployees Facebook time.

2009-11-27T09:54:00.000+05:30

While the jury is still out on the utility of social media in workplaces, an article dated November 16, in the Advertising Age is sure to stir up further discussion on the pros and cons.

The article Give Employees Facebook Time claims that "allowing employees to access social media could actually result in many other benefits for the employer."

However, the article would have been more convincing if it had bothered to examine the other side of the coin- how banning social media from the workplace has helped in increasing productivity.

How Gen Y changed the recruiting scene

2009-11-26T12:53:00.000+05:30

Generation Y, Millennials, The Internet Generation - call them what you will, have definitely changed how recruiters go about recruiting.

If you speak to any seasoned recruiter about this generation, you may be surprised to learn that while this generation may be the most intelligent generation to join the workforce, they are also considered to be lazy and difficult to retain. While these two characteristics often cast Gen Y in a negative light, thanks to this generation, recruiting has changed drastically and will continue to evolve.

Heather Huhman, believes the three key factors that brought this change in recruiting are the technology adeptness of the GenY, their parents and finally the sophistication of the education they undergo.

However, it is debatable whether GenY are desirable recruits because of their sense of entitlement.

The Directory Of Executive & Professional Recruiters 2009-2010 (Directory of Executive Recruiters)

Monster: The 25th most visited ad network.

2009-11-24T09:43:00.001+05:30

A recent comScore Media Metrix Report shows Monster Career Ad Network is now the 25th most visited ad network.

In essence, Monster Career Ad Network now reaches 43 percent of the U.S. online audience (comScore Media Metrix September 2009).

Monster.com believes that its substantial investment in its Career Ad Network has helped in complementing today’s recruiting needs.

The ability to help employers extend their recruitment reach, target the right seekers through behavioral targeting technology, and then guide those job seekers back to employers’ job postings on Monster.com is a clear differentiator in the online recruitment space.

The Directory Of Executive & Professional Recruiters 2009-2010 (Directory of Executive Recruiters)

GCHQ and TMP recruiting through XBox Live Service.

2009-11-23T17:33:00.000+05:30

In an attempt to recruit and fill 250 predominantly IT and technical profiles, UK's Intelligence agency, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and TMP Worldwide are launching a recruitment campaign to run on Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE service, targeting the online gaming community.

The six-week campaign features graphic video clips and static advertisements designed to help potential candidates experience GCHQ’s work, which can range from tackling hackers to fighting organised crime.

The Best Recruiting Program

2009-11-22T11:39:00.001+05:30

The best recruiting programs (How to REALLY use LinkedIn) are those in which recruiting is an ongoing activity, instead of a knee-jerk response to an immediate need. Even if you’re not currently expanding your sales team, normal turnover or performance issues almost certainly means that you’ll need to hire every month.

There are many avenues to take when recruiting. Don’t depend on a single approach. A few ads in the Sunday newspaper will not be effective. To obtain quality candidates, use all the available resources at your disposal. The way we market is changing and we have to change as well. You want to be able to “touch” as many prospects as possible.

More here.

ABC's Indigenous Employment Plan

2009-09-22T08:08:00.000+05:30

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is implementing the next phase of its Indigenous Employment Plan.

To recruit more Indigenous Australians into its fold (currently there are 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander on roll) ABC will be holding an Indigenous Careers Day in Melbourne on Tuesday 27^th October.

The Indigenous Careers day will be held at the ABC Studios at 8 Gordon St, Elsternwick and aims to inform and educate Indigenous Australians about the range of career opportunities at the ABC.

How to land a 'holiday' job?

2009-09-21T17:46:00.000+05:30

John Challenger of the Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas offers tips to those hoping to land holiday jobs.

Start looking now. Contact friends working in establishments that could need holiday workers. Apply at places you frequent.

If there are retail outlets where you prefer to work, go there when business is slow and try to make a connection with a manager or assistant manager, so you can separate yourself from the pack.

Target large discounters, where cost-conscious shoppers are expected to flock.

Look beyond sales clerk positions and also apply for positions in shipping, overnight stocking jobs and catering work.

Be flexible with hours and type of work, and prepare to be on standby.

Talent Acquisition Systems Market shows 9 % growth

2009-09-18T05:15:00.001+05:30

Research conducted to get insights into the market trends of the leading talent acquisition systems providers reveals that despite the recession, the talent acquisition systems market has grown by 9 % and is expected to maintain the same level of growth over the coming year.

This conclusion was drawn on the market data provided by talent acquisition system vendors like ADP, Authoria, First Advantage, HRsmart, Hodes iQ, iCIMS, Kenexa, Kronos, MrTed, Oracle, Peopleclick, SAP, SilkRoad technologies, Softscape, SonicRecruit (Cytiva), StepStone, and Taleo.

Click to learn more about:

The uses of talent acquisition technology in strong and weak economic climates.

Recommendations and guidance for purchases.

Best practices for evaluating and selecting solution providers.

Considerations for implementation and consideration.

Considerations for global solutions.

Detailed perspective of vendor offerings, partnerships, and much more.

U K Recruitment signals recovery.

2009-09-13T15:53:00.001+05:30

The REC and KPMG's September Report on Jobs shows the U K labour market showing sign of revival.

The report indicates marginal increase, in both permanent and temporary staff appointments during August.

Some of the key points in the report are:

Marginal increases in both permanent and temporary staff appointments.

Candidate availability rose at weaker pace.

Permanent and temporary staff pay fell at slower rates.

This is the first increase in permanent appointments for 17 months and the first raise in temporary billings since July 2008.

'At-will' is a limited policy

2009-08-21T06:25:00.002+05:30

Erick Becker in LA Labor Relations Examiner argues at-will employment clause involves only contracts of employment.

"While at-will language establishes a defense against a basic wrongful termination lawsuit, it doesn't provide a defense when an employee challenges a termination on other grounds, such as discrimination. In those cases, the employer must establish that there was some legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for termination – in other words, the employer is guilty until proven innocent".

U.S. Government jobs increase by 0.6%

2009-08-21T06:25:00.001+05:30

According to a report from Rockefeller Institute of Government, combined state and local government employment across the U.S. increased marginally since the recession in December 2007.

During the past year, total state- and local-government employment rose in 30 states and declined in 16, with employment in the remaining states remaining unchanged. Since the recession, state and local governments have added about 110,000 jobs, an increase of 0.6 per cent.

Read the Report (pdf)

New Zealand-Unemployment reaches 6% June 2009

2009-08-21T06:25:00.000+05:30

In seasonally adjusted terms, the unemployment rate continued to rise, reaching 6.0 percent during the June 2009 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. Both the number of people unemployed and the unemployment rate have been increasing for the past six quarters.

The unemployment rate rose by 1.0 percentage point during the June 2009 quarter, the largest quarterly increase since the September 1988 quarter. The female unemployment rate increased by 1.5 percentage points to 6.3 percent during the June 2009 quarter, while the male unemployment rate increased by 0.6 percentage points to 5.7 percent.

Statistics New Zealand: Household Labour Force Survey: June 2009 quarter

London- job openings fall by 7%

2009-08-19T11:44:00.001+05:30

According to the recruitment firm Morgan McKinley’s London Employment Monitor, jobs in london financial- services industry fell 7% in July.

The current trend is 59% off from the same period in 2008.

This may be due to bankers deferring hiring decisions until their return from vacations.

The weakening in jobs in london is due to seasonal factors rather than to the state of the economy.

Modus Operandi of Illegal Recruiters - Philippines

2009-08-18T06:41:00.000+05:30

According to the US Department of State, G/TIP and Solidarity Center STEER Project the modus Operandi of the Illegal Recruiters are:

Tourist Worker Scheme – workers leave the country as tourists but are actually leaving for employment abroad.

Escort Services – workers are “escorted” at the airports ad seaports and allowed to leave even without the required travel documents

Blind Ads – advertisements for overseas employment published in the dailies do not indicate the name of the recruiter but provides a P.O. Box to which applications may be submitted.

By Correspondence – applicants are encouraged to submit their requirements through mail together with seemingly minimal fee.

Backdoor Exit – workers leave through the southern ports of exit where immigration control is lax. They usually leave on cargo ships or on boats.

Assumed identity – workers leave under another name either using the name of another worker or through the “baklas system” or obtaining passports through fake birth certificates and other documents. Minors are usually deployed through this scheme.

Direct hiring – workers are recruited directly by the foreign employer and deployed either as tourists or through any of the other illegal means.

Trainee-Worker Scheme – workers are recruited and deployed as trainees on a training agreement. More often, HRM students leaving in the guise of a traineeship program for hotels abroad but eventually landing jobs in hotels/restaurants abroad.

Tie-Up or Kabit System – unlicensed recruiters tie-up with licensed agencies and recruit workers through the facilities of the latter. Workers are either deployed under the job order of the licensed agency but actually work for another employer abroad or the foreign principal of the unlicensed recruiter is registered or accredited under the licensed agency’s name.

Visa Assistance or Immigration Consultancy Scheme – entities operating under the guise of consultancy or offering services for visa facilitation are actually engaged in recruitment by offering placement abroad on immigrant visa. Some of them also operate through the conduct of orientation seminars, which are actually recruiting activities.

Camouflaged participants/representatives in seminars/sports events – workers leave as participants in seminars or sports events abroad but actually intend to work there.

Mail Order Bride Scheme – marriage is arranged by brokers between Filipino women and foreigners. The Filipino wife ends up being a domestic helper to her husband and his family or in worst situations abroad.

SAP Channel Partners to recruit using LinkedIn

2009-08-15T11:48:00.001+05:30

SAP AG and LinkedIn, announced a marketing agreement that will provide SAP partners in the SME market an opportunity to recruit from 140,000 SAP consultants using LinkedIn.

SAP Partners will benefit from a special offering, the LinkedIn(R) Recruiter(TM) Basic Starter Package, designed specifically for the recruiting needs of SAP channel partners with up to 1,000 employees.

The package includes LinkedIn(R) Recruiter(TM), an online recruiting solution that searches the LinkedIn network for the best candidates based on individually definable criteria. SAP channel partners can then easily contact and track those candidates via LinkedIn Recruiter.

Additionally, the package includes LinkedIn(R) Jobs Network(TM), an online job posting service that partners can leverage to promote job openings to the LinkedIn community.

The offering is immediately available to all SAP channel partners worldwide.

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