February 13, 2012
 Greg Schreiner Job Boards and Social Media May Replace Recruiters…
By Greg Schreiner, Clean Tech Recruitment Manager
Many people believe that job boards are as useful as recruiters, and may even replace them. Companies post jobs on Monster and niche boards. Job seekers are using social media to target their next job. Anyone can post a job pitch on YouTube, the world’s second largest search engine. Networking is viral, right? So why work with a recruiter?
Ironically, using the internet and working with a recruiter are quite opposite methods of locating the talent you need. And yet both are useful of course.
Remember that expression about searching for a needle in a haystack? It refers to a difficult or impossible search for a particular object amongst a huge mountain of similar objects.
Recruiters are often enlisted for the more difficult or critical talent searches. Sometimes the company doesn’t have the dedicated resources to comb the pile of resumes that can result from a job posting or other talent outreach. Often if the hiring manager isn’t the one reading the resumes initially, and the right talent may be overlooked while the hiring manager is barraged by less qualified or less suitable potential candidates.
Despite the hype about social media and the new business models of paying a referral to someone who submits a friend for a job who eventually gets hired, most jobs are secured when the right talent is enticed by the right company’s opportunity and culture.
You need a well-written job description, and posting it on your website serves as outreach for active and passive candidate for today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities. But beware the time involved in sorting through resumes from job descriptions that are plastered all over the internet. But if you are serious about efficiently securing the top talent in your industry, you’ll get much farther much faster by using a professional.
A critical difference a recruiter can make is the ability and mission to woo prospects, even those currently employed, from specific target areas in a discreet and professional manner, thereby extending your talent pool reach. Working with a headhunter will increase your chance of finding the right candidates quickly. The reality is that good recruiters (and they won’t be around for long if they aren’t good) know how to find the needle in the haystack.
Your recruiter takes on the heavy lifting of sifting through job boards, mining their own database of professionals, conducting Boolean searches, and making hours of phone calls to network and chase down referrals. The recruiter will screen prospective candidates via in-depth interviewing, background checks, and references; and identify the right match between the talent and the company. Your recruiter will also help sell your company and the opportunity, and participate in successfully closing the candidate.
In the end, recruiters, companies and candidates have a whole variety of ways to meet. Despite the hype, social media and job boards will not take over the function of truly understanding a candidate’s value and abilities, and making the right matches for companies with which they work.
Recruiters know that success comes when long term partnerships are built and the highest level of satisfaction in career and talent matching is provided. So post your job descriptions and post your resume, and make sure you send a copy to your favorite recruiter.
About Greg Schreiner, Clean Tech Recruitment Manager
Greg Schreiner has a diverse business background as a team layer and individual contributor that serves him well in his role as the Clean Tech Recruitment Manager, serving GreenTech and Alternative Energy sectors. Greg’s passion for and expertise in the alternative energy space are readily apparent.
December 5, 2011
Staffing and Employment News
Recruiting Forecast
Recruiters and hiring managers forecast modest job gains in early 2012, according to a national survey conducted by Dice Holdings Inc. released on November 28. In fact, almost half (47%) of hiring managers and recruiters surveyed said they plan additional hiring during the first half of the year. 43% of hiring professionals said that despite the economy, hiring plans have not changed; 21% are increasing hiring, and 30% are revising hiring plans downward.
“With so much uncertainty in the air when it comes to the economy and job creation, it’s a surprisingly positive sign that nearly half of respondents are optimistic about hiring at the start of 2012,” said Scot Melland, chairman, president and CEO of Dice Holdings. “Although modest in size, we’ve added private-sector jobs for 20 months now, and that modest job growth looks set to continue. We need to focus on removing any hurdles that impede companies from investing in America’s talent.” (more…)
Staffing and Employment News
Recruiting Forecast
Recruiters and hiring managers forecast modest job gains in early 2012, according to a national survey conducted by Dice Holdings Inc. released on November 28. In fact, almost half (47%) of hiring managers and recruiters surveyed said they plan additional hiring during the first half of the year. 43% of hiring professionals said that despite the economy, hiring plans have not changed; 21% are increasing hiring, and 30% are revising hiring plans downward.
“With so much uncertainty in the air when it comes to the economy and job creation, it’s a surprisingly positive sign that nearly half of respondents are optimistic about hiring at the start of 2012,” said Scot Melland, chairman, president and CEO of Dice Holdings. “Although modest in size, we’ve added private-sector jobs for 20 months now, and that modest job growth looks set to continue. We need to focus on removing any hurdles that impede companies from investing in America’s talent.”
The numbers
November private payrolls according to ADP almost doubled (206,000) over October’s (110,000), whopping the consensus leading up to the employment report which forecast 110,000 to 160,000.
IT employment continues to show growth monthly. The TechServe Alliance monthly index shows that more than 7,000 IT jobs were added in October, an increase of 87,000 positions from October 2010, or 2.2 percent. “According to both data and the anecdotal reports of my member companies, demand for IT professionals in key skill sets remains strong,” said TechServe Alliance CEO Mark Roberts. According to the Brookings Institute, rising computer and electronic exports to Asia fueled that industry’s 7 percent job growth in the third quarter in Silicon Valley.
Clean energy project investment had a record quarter: Q3 2011 saw a surge in wind farm and solar park financings, as well as in merger and acquisition activity. In Allentown, PA, by jobs in basic chemical manufacturing are growing again thanks to strong demand from Latin America.
Confidence
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index improved last month after reaching recessionary levels in October. It now stands at 56.0 (1985=100), up from 40.9 in October. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) owners reported a workforce reduction again for the 5th month; but at the same time reported that Small Business Optimism did rise slightly in October.
Related Reading
DICE HOLDINGS, INC.: Hiring Managers’ Plans Surprisingly Steadfast: Modest Job Gains Expected in Early 2012
Small-Business Confidence Ticks Upward: Still Weighed Down by Dominant Negative Forecast
April 25, 2011
Revisit Your Mission: Strengthen Corporate Culture and Better Serve Your Employees and Clients.
 Heidi Clark By Heidi Clark, COO,CHO, Redfish Technology, Inc.
Change. It’s something that we naturally resist and yet is a very important part of any organization. Redfish is, has been and always will be changing. Since we opened our doors fifteen years ago, we’ve seen many cycles and shifts of the market – from the Dot Com to the Dot Bomb to the 2007 Recession. We’ve seen the highest highs in the tech market and the lowest lows. As Redfish has grown, so have we and in that growth there has been a deepening of purpose. In our efforts to embrace and reflect this change, reviewing our mission statement becomes our first priority. (more…)
March 9, 2011
 Shannon Tinker Things to Know Before Reviewing Your First Resume
By Shannon Tinker
Hallelujah! You’ve been given the green light to add employees to your team and not a moment too soon. Your team has been in the trenches since the economy’s infamous downturn and despite your efforts, your hiring budget has remained nonexistent. Your new hiring breakthrough is exciting and it’s tempting to start the candidate search ASAP. Evaluating some key elements before jumping into the candidate pool with both feet can ensure a successful search, and minimize the level of frustration for you and your team. (more…)
September 20, 2010
Job Searching
There are many ways to job search, and certainly the more avenues that are explored and doors knocked on, the greater number of opportunities you will find. Obviously you need your resume polished and ready. Next, develop a list of the companies you’d like to work for. Now get in touch! (more…)
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