Hire Strategies Blog

Who is responsible for tracking? Media channel or media buyer?

Why is it that there are still so many challenges in finding out where your great new hires came from?

There are more tracking tools than you can shake a stick at yet recruiters still struggle to measure the success of their hiring channels. The ATS can’t do it. The job board can’t do it. Even Google Analytics or Atlas Tracking tags cannot do it alone. It’s absolute madness. So who’s responsibility is it then?

Don't dress like a married man if you want to get noticed by top totty

You see them everywhere; even in the mirror dude. At the bar after their run or gym session or whatever it is they do to relax. But always in the bar. Unshaven. Favourite over worn t-shirt. Scruffy trainers. Baggy jeans. But they’re married so it doesn’t matter.

Is your culture killing your social media efforts?

So your CEO has a BHAG.

Chances are it includes the Internet, social, technology, maybe even the cloud.

But here’s the bigger question. Can your company adapt to the changes ahead? Or is your culture so engrained that it cannot handle change?

Of course I don’t mean you, it’s everyone else that has problems with culture.

Really?

Swap desks right now with someone else without telling them. See how well they adapt to a sudden change that can be easily undone.

The BHAG may exist but will your people stop it happening? Do you have leaders that can help them change?

Only you know the truth.

What's in a name Costa?

Toffee or caramel. Does it really matter? In most cases it doesn’t which is what some bright spark in Costa product marketing thought. But try telling that to the kids - or the baristas!

Ambitious? Well maybe your Klout score does matter.

Over the last few months there have been a few posts and discussions about the value of your social media profile from a recruitment perspective. Most suggested it didn’t matter how well you connected you were. I disagree.

If you are highly ambitious you will want to work for a company with ambitions. Companies such as Ford and Dell are very much focused on weaving social into their corporate DNA. Salesforce.com talk about the social enterprise and how the companies of tomorrow will be led by the young people of today who have grown up with the Internet and social. These companies will be connected to everything and everyone and they are very ambitious; they want to be market leaders. Their employees, at every level, will be connected. No questions about it.

So if you are a social laggard, which is absolutely fine, just don’t expect to have the edge at an interview for your dream job with that dream company. Little Johnnie snot face with his amazing Klout score may just nudge ahead; courtesy of his friends, followers and influencers!

Please note: I don't just mean Klout score; it is just one example of social measurement.

Foursquare I love you but maybe it's time to say goodbye....

You see, when we first met it was all so much fun. Easy to do things together, uncomplicated, new. But then you started to change. Small things at first that I didn't really notice but then you became a little unreliable. You got lots of new friends. You sometimes didn't respond but lately it's got worse. A different new has turned up. I have tried telling you but you don't listen. I wondered if it was me so switched off for a while and tried again but nothing changed. I even uninstalled you and got the even newer you but still no response.

So Foursquare, as much as love being with you, if you just won't recognise me when I'm in that special restaurant, or my favourite coffee shop, or on a run, and always WITH YOU, what's the point? Of course there is no point, or badge, or sharing. Nothing. So as much as it will hurt and knowing I will probably try again in a few weeks or maybe months, for now I think I have to say goodbye :-( 

At least my "friends" will know why I no longer share my favourite places with them..... even if you don't.

What if you had to leave recruitment?

Imagine for whatever reason you could no longer work in recruitment. Ever again. Or in fact whatever you currently do.

But on the upside you were given a full years salary to go and do something else. Even if you started at the bottom of your new trade you'd still get the same salary you currently earn. What would you choose to do?

So why don't you already do it?

(It's a tough question I know!)

August: a time for reflection.

Are our live's today a reflection of our past? Is our business in the second half of 2011 a reflection of our activities in the first half of 2011? 

Google and Facebook show us the way for a better candidate and employee experience

The user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) is becoming more about simplicity; less is more, remove the clutter, focus on the important. Social has driven us in this direction. Myspace gave us the option to do what we wanted, Facebook tell us what we get. Look who's won that battle.

Can I have a badge please? #gamification #in

Badges, badges everywhere that make no sense to me?! Well actually they do really but are we not getting a little bit carried away with badges these days? Well, it has only just started. Or has it?