Difficult Economy Affects Hiring Practices

Source: Accounting Office Management & Administration Report

In a difficult economy, firms need to increase business opportunities, maximize their current employees' talents, and develop a plan for the future. To accomplish those goals, firms may have to reconsider their hiring strategies. Leading professionals have identified a few recruiting patterns and ideas that have emerged in this economy:

• Upper-level positions are filled by candidates with strong marketing, business development, and relational ability, rather than by candidates who primarily offer strong technical skills.
• Entry-level positions may be eliminated or reduced by increasing automation and handing tasks off to support staff. Professionals with one to three years of experience can be hired instead.
• Firms that are hiring less right now can build databases of potential employees and develop relationships with those people in preparation for future hiring needs.
• Fee-based hiring websites can be a targeted means of finding quality employees — a more effective means than general job sites where resume-posting is free.
• Social media such as LinkedIn can help firms and individuals establish online identities and further professional networks.

For the complete article, click here.

From Accounting Office Management & Administration Report, Institute of Management and Administration, Inc., Newark, NJ, [email protected], August 2010, p. 5, “How the Economy Has Changed Recruiting Goals.”