How to recruit in today’s economy

The labour dynamics are changing with more people in the job market for a

variety of reasons.

• Higher unemployment levels, or more correctly, lower levels of employment.

This creates the perception that more Candidates are “out there” awaiting

employment. However, typically the best talent is currently employed.

• Knowledge and market awareness through internet searching. Also true, but as

the best Candidates are currently employed, (usually) and have less time or

inclination to surf.

•Management and hiring authorities having less time to be involved in the

search and recruitment process. In today’s economy teams are leaner and more

multi-tasking is expected.

Searching and selection takes time and skill, that’s why these words are used. It

is a process and a process which takes time, effort and aptitude.

•The true cost of a “bad hire” is gaining more visibility in the profit/loss column

for many companies.

This is a relatively new concept. How much in revenue, profit and company

standing does a bad employee actually cost? Lost revenue, training, rehire costs,

re-training etc. Accountability in hiring is with us in 2009.

How can Focus Ahead Consulting help, and what are the key differences in their

approach?

Contingency Work

No fee structure

The Client determines the fee, how else could it be? Only the Client knows

the value of the role. Focus Ahead will evaluate the role, the search complexity

and simply politely decline the assignment or begin the search.

Trained Consultants in your industry

The concept is to use industry experts in your field. One of our Consultants,

with years of experience as a production manager leading the search for a

production manager. Seems simple, but it is actually a radical approach. No

neophyte recruiters trying to grasp industry acronyms or skill sets. More efficient

discussions with hiring managers take place because the key elements of the

role are understood.

Retained Searches

This is specifically targeted towards established companies where personnel

growth, internal promotion and staff attrition are part of the business cycle. This

means that recruitment at some level is almost always going on. This is a

business fact of life, and this is where Focus Ahead Consulting excels.

What does Focus Ahead offer?

•True understanding of the Job Order because our consultants have been in the

industry, they understand the metrics and appreciate the key indicators and

future performance indices used in the process.

•Input to the Client of current market conditions related to salary, benefits and

realistic compensation levels.

•Input into Job Description details and formal documents. It is vital for both

Client and Candidate to understand the scope of the role and the expectations in

the first year of the job. Without measuring, we cannot monitor. We cannot

measure without metrics.

•Screening of all Candidate CVs prior to submission. It make take 2 minutes to

screen a CV or resume, but when you have 100 replies, where in the workday

are you going to find over 3 hours to accurately review the incoming responses?

•Short list selection and interview planning. We do the work. Setting up,

liaison and following through on a planned interview process.

If required, and always recommended, one of our Consultants will attend the

interview process and give candid feedback on Candidate suitability.

•Communication to successful and unsuccessful Candidates regarding their

performance.

•Soliciting and interpreting post interview feedback from the Candidate as to

their thoughts on the Company, hiring timeline etc.

(Hiring is a two way process)

•Arranging final interviews and job offers to the selected Candidate, while

drawing up contingency plans should the preferred Candidate decline the offer.

•Follow up with both parties after 3 months on the job to ensure that there are

no outstanding issues or uncertainties, with a written report to the Client.

Please contact us at info@focusaheadconsulting.co.uk or phone Jan Carmichael

at 01757 288337 to find out how quickly we can help your business.

Visit www.focusaheadconsulting.co.uk to see how best practices in

recruitment are accomplished in 2009.