Recruiting - does it feel different?

Paul in Cannon Beach · March 2009

Each year we hire 100 summer staff to cover our busiest season. Hiring that many full time staff (we provide their lodging/meals, most our college students) takes a long time. We are usually hiring right through May and sometimes even into June.

Its mid-March now and we are basically DONE.

I'd like to think I am a skillful recruiter or that our steps to move the application online have helped but there is certainly something else going on here too.

Is it the economy? Is it a shift in attitudes towards jobs? I heard over the weekend that 10,000 people showed up at Dodger stadium for a job fair featuring 60 employers.

Are the rest of you experiencing something similar?

plynnl · March 2009

The only thing different I had happen was last week Monster.com called to see if we had any job openings. I have never had them call me before.

joannie · March 2009

If I had work for 300 more trucks, I would easily be able to find drivers to fill them. I was getting 3-5 previous employment inquiries a day up until just before Christmas. Since then, I have only gotten 2. Not 2 per day, 2 total.

cnghr · March 2009

Nope, we are having a heck of a time getting any applicants at all for several positions that have been open for some time now, and these are not even positions that require a high level of education or skills, there just aren't people applying. The local economy & unemployment aren't bad enough around here yet, apparently.

Paul in Cannon Beach · March 2009

Sorry, CNGHR. I hope things get worse soon.

Actually, what you are describing is what we were seeing about a year ago. Employers in our area were struggling to find applicants who were able to come to work on time and pass a drug screen. Skills and experience were a plus!

Now I feel the tide turning. Unemployment in Oregon is 10.8 percent. Personally, I feel our high minimum wage ($8.40) is part of the problem. I know Frank disagrees.

KSR6450 · March 2009

[quote=cnghr;715211]Nope, we are having a heck of a time getting any applicants at all for several positions that have been open for some time now, and these are not even positions that require a high level of education or skills, there just aren't people applying. The local economy & unemployment aren't bad enough around here yet, apparently.[/quote]

We have not seen an increase in applicants and we do have an open position yet cannot find anyone with the proper qualifications. But hey, if I need a job in the near future I am moving to Alaska!

cnghr · March 2009

I just looked up the actual unemployment rate in my community, which is where the jobs are that we are having trouble finding applicants for, and as of the end of January it was 10.3% so I'm not sure why there's such a scarcity of applicants for these jobs.

Paul, one of the supervisors who's been having such a hard time finding applicants just lost one of her really good employees to a job in Oregon, maybe there's somebody down there in your neck of the woods who would like to move up here?! Seems like it's only fair, although I'll grant that it's probably easier to get somebody to move to Oregon than it is to my neck of the woods!

cnghr · March 2009

[QUOTE=KSR6450;715214]We have not seen an increase in applicants and we do have an open position yet cannot find anyone with the proper qualifications. But hey, if I need a job in the near future I am moving to Alaska!

[/QUOTE]

If you know Word & Excel and can manage to show up on time and will actually come to work every day, I've got three different positions open right now and I'm sure one or the other of them would be to your liking!

KSR6450 · March 2009

[quote=cnghr;715216]If you know Word & Excel and can manage to show up on time and will actually come to work every day, I've got three different positions open right now and I'm sure one or the other of them would be to your liking![/quote]

I love spreadsheets; I create one for everything. I took a college class on Word (of course that was years ago, but not much has changed in computers, huh?). I am there. Give me directions

joannie · March 2009

Just post your resume. All of us are looking for people with those qualifications!

KSR6450 · March 2009

I will! This system won't let me do an attachment this LARGE??? I was going to post a joke resume, but Paul was too busy to send his.

[SIZE=2][B][FONT=Verdana]Work[/FONT][/B][FONT=Verdana] [B]experience[/B][/FONT][/SIZE]

[B][FONT=Verdana]2003 – Present[/FONT][/B][FONT=Verdana] First Capital Bank Germantown, TN[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Human Resources Officer[/FONT]
[FONT=Wingdings]n [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Administer 401k, Employee Stock Purchase and Health Insurance Plans for Bank employees[/FONT]
[FONT=Wingdings]n [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Monitor and enforce attendance and handbook policies[/FONT]
[FONT=Wingdings]n [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Handle all training for Bank employees[/FONT]
[FONT=Wingdings]n [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Perform operational duties including: [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Accounts Payable[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Monitoring of Large Cash Items [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Balancing internal and correspondent accounts [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Backup for IT and Branch Personnel[/FONT]

[B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]Skills[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Wingdings]n [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]Proficient in Microsoft Office products[/FONT]

[B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]References[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Verdana]Furnished Upon Request[/FONT]

Jo - will you field the numerous offers that are sure to follow?

Paul in Cannon Beach · March 2009

What resume? I have worked for the same organization for almost 16 years. My resume would be from back in college and would only include a Chinese restaurant and various mis-adventures in retail.

KSR6450 · March 2009

As an HR professional, I would assume you know it is wise to keep an updated resume? :-O

joannie · March 2009

Sure, KSR, I will be happy to act as an employment agent for you. BTW, I will take my 33% commission up front, thank you.

KSR6450 · March 2009

Well, an employer took your suggestion and offered me a job, so... 33% of diddlysquat is, I believe, zilch. Did I do the math right?

joannie · March 2009

Close, very Close.

KSR6450 · March 2009

Did I miss a naught? Naught into naught is naught, at least that is what they teach here in Tennessee...
And that employer says there is still an office for you there, too! 8-|

Paul in Cannon Beach · March 2009

My resume is just six words: I'll make your company more awesomer.

joannie · March 2009

Yeah, three office and a large conference area. I believe I'll take my cut when you take the job, as I brokered that offer for you this morning. BTW the prospective employer thinks you are cute.:D

KSR6450 · March 2009

Paul - I am glad you did not include that you were an English major on that resume. Scary...

Jo - I'm not sure I could handle the job duties at that location. And the pay would have to be really good!!

NaeNae55 · March 2009

Paul,
Your constant interactions with young adults is showing.
I like it.

Paul in Cannon Beach · March 2009

Its fascinating that some parts of the country have NO jobs and other parts of the country are shutting down businesses because there are NO workers.

I wonder if this will generate some population shifts.

joannie · March 2009

We are seeing it in Oklahoma. Our unemployment rate is below 5% and we have companies closing for lack of workers. Our demographics are quickly changing. There has been quite an influx of Northerners and Californians moving here.

KSR6450 · March 2009

Since core industries vary by region - logic tells you that some areas whose industries are not affected as dramatically, or are even helped by the downturn, will perform better than others. I am moving to North Dakota.

joannie · March 2009

That's not the region your job offer came from.

KSR6450 · March 2009

Either way I would have to deal with the snow and cold... something I am loath to do! It will be close to 80 here today and I am riding 'topless', as Ray would say.

North Dakota has real cowboys though.

ritaanz · March 2009

:-O :-O Topless?? :-O :-O

KSR6450 · March 2009

Call me Lady Godiva, or LG for short.
I drive a convertible. We have had great weather here the last few days so the top goes down. \:D/ I did catch myself hollering at a bad driver yesterday and had to stop; it takes awhile to get used to being so 'exposed'

System · March 2009

I take it you're in Alaska. I lived in Fairbanks for a couple of years in the early 80's. Beautiful place and the people were wonderful. You're a lucky duck!

System · March 2009

The unemployment rate here has been about 8.5 % for some time now. Lot's of folks looking for work. I heard a few weeks ago that at a Career Center in a nearby town, on one Monday morning, applicant's started lining up outside the door at about 4:00 am. With that said, I'm seeing as many advertisements for jobs this year as at this same time last year when unemployment was much lower. Skilled and unskilled labor seems to be the hardest hit with lay offs, but companies are cutting back at all levels as well.

KSR6450 · March 2009

Sharon, are you based in Nashville? Just wondered if those numbers were for Tennessee and if what you were describing was for the Metro area.

Recruiting - does it feel different?

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