Parallel HR » Careerbuilder survey http://parallelhr.com Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:37:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 What’s the True Cost of a Bad Hire? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/5676SN3XdnU/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/5676SN3XdnU/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:04:20 +0000 Mary Lorenz http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=14903 They may not have experienced the type of PR nightmares that Netflix experienced from its ill-conceived decision to launch Qwikster or Yahoo! Inc. saw after firing CEO Carol Bartz over the phone, but two-thirds of American companies say they’ve made business mistakes this year they wish they could take back. Those mistakes, according to a new survey, came in the form of bad hires, the results of which ended up costing them in more than just bruised egos. According to a new CareerBuilder survey on the cost of a bad hire, 69 percent of employers reported that bad hires lowered their company’s productivity, affected worker morale and even resulted in legal issues. Forty-one percent of companies estimate that a bad hire costs more than $25,000, and one in four said it costs more than $50,000. While some mistakes are beyond the hiring manager’s control, there are ways to avoid hiring the wrong person. “The more thoroughly the candidates are vetted, the less likely they will be a poor match,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. Haefner advises employers to allow job candidates the opportunity to meet as many employees in the department as possible – especially if they will work closely together. Also, candidates should provide ample evidence to show they have the skills and work experience required for the position. Hiring mistakes happen...but why?]]> http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/12/16/true-cost-of-a-bad-hire/feed/atom/ 0 It’s Getting Personal: Workers, Employers, and Internet Use at Work http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/z461isDTlz4/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/z461isDTlz4/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:00:10 +0000 Amy Chulik http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=14756 http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/11/28/it%e2%80%99s-getting-personal-workers-employers-and-internet-use-at-work/feed/atom/ 0 Employers Plan to Bring Back Middle Management Positions http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/1xfqa6jv1KA/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/1xfqa6jv1KA/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:19:21 +0000 Mary Lorenz http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=14718 employers welcome back middle managersFirst it was Arrested Development. Then it was Beavis and Butthead, followed by layaway and (presumably) pantyhose. Now, the latest comeback story of the season involves middle management. Middle management positions were a significant casualty of recession-era layoffs, but new research from CareerBuilder’s various industry sites indicate that many employers saw counterproductive consequences and are now rehiring for those positions. Employers surveyed in the retail, IT and healthcare industries indicated plans to bring back previously eliminated middle management jobs for the purpose of bringing structural gaps and addressing market demands. When assessing the impact of downsizing middle management, employers who made cuts in these industries cited both positive effects (cost-savings and more efficient operations) as well as negative ones (structural and emotional drawbacks). Don’t know what you got till it’s gone? According to industry experts, part of the reason for the resurgence in middle management jobs is that employers are now realizing just how essential middle management is to the organization.
“Middle management often gets a bad rap for adding bureaucratic layers to an organization, but these roles can be essential in maintaining team cohesion, retaining core talent and providing direction to workers,” says Bill Meidell, product director of WorkInRetail.com Jamie Carney, product director of Sologig.com, agrees. “When a department lacks leadership or direction, it is easier to see the value of middle management,” Carney says. “The data suggests that middle management plays an important role in making an employee’s work experience meaningful and productive.” “Middle management is essential to providing balance and direction within complex organizations,” adds Rob Morris, product director of MiracleWorkers.com. “They play important roles from onboarding new employees and tracking progress to building positive morale and maintaining chains of communication – all things that are difficult to do without.”
Check out details for each industry survey below…]]> http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/11/17/employers-plan-to-bring-back-middle-management-positions/feed/atom/ 0 Behind the Boss: CareerBuilder Takes a Peek at Company Leaders’ Personal Style http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/a8qg1S0wJLQ/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/a8qg1S0wJLQ/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:55:41 +0000 Amy Chulik http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=14699 survey 561 hiring managers in senior leader roles to get the scoop on senior leaders' personal habits -- and here's what they had to say:

What company leaders said about their everyday habits:

]]> http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/11/16/company-leaders-personal-style/feed/atom/ 0 “I Have Versatile Toes” and Other Unusual Résumé Statements: Worth a Second Look? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/iqp9ZR0l5Nc/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/iqp9ZR0l5Nc/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:02:30 +0000 Amy Chulik http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=13174 13.9 million Americans are currently looking for work, according to BLS statistics. It goes without saying, then, that making a positive impression with potential employers is of utmost importance to job seekers. Despite good intentions, however, the reality of these efforts sometimes falls short of the goal. While it's clear that many of us have made a résumé mistake at one time or another in our job-searching experiences, as well as a few blunders during the interview itself -- some mistakes are more, ah, memorable than others. Then again, some of them may not turn out to be mistakes at all. Let's weigh in on results from a just-released CareerBuilder study of more than 2,600 employers nationwide -- revealing the most unusual résumés they've seen seeing.

Resume reviews: Faster than you (should) brush your teeth

Turns out that nearly half (45 percent) of human resource managers said they spend, on average, less than one minute reviewing an application. Less than one single minute! While this comes as n surprise to those with the responsibility of hiring, it is quite the shock for many job seekers who think you're spending hours poring over the intricate résumé details they worked so hard to perfect. Not to fear, however: In that less than one minute's time, human resource managers can retain quite a lot of the absurdities that come across their desk. When asked to recall the most memorable or unusual résumés they've gotten, human resource managers and hiring managers shared the following gems.  

Employers' 15 most memorable résumés:

1. Candidate said the more you paid him, the harder he worked. 2. Candidate was fired from different jobs, but included each one as a reference. 3. Candidate said he just wanted an opportunity to show off his new tie. 4. Candidate listed her dog as a reference. 5. Candidate listed the ability to do the moonwalk as a special skill. 6. Candidates – a husband and wife looking to job share –submitted a co-written poem. 7. Candidate included “versatile toes” as a selling point. 8. Candidate said that he would be a “good asset to the company,” but failed to include the “et” in the word “asset.” 9. Candidate’s email address on the resume had “shakinmybootie” in it. 10. Candidate included that she survived a bite from a deadly aquatic animal. 11. Candidate used first name only. 12. Candidate asked, “Would you pass up an opportunity to hire someone like this? I think not.” 13. Candidate insisted that the company pay him to interview with them because his time was valuable. 14. Candidate shipped a lemon with résumé, stating “I am not a lemon.” 15. Candidate included that he was arrested for assaulting his previous boss.  

To hire -- or to run?

]]> http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/08/24/unusual-resume-statements/feed/atom/ 0 Life’s a Beach? Not So Fast, Say Some Vacation-Less Workers http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/7JQi79hgseA/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/7JQi79hgseA/#comments Thu, 26 May 2011 11:00:04 +0000 Amy Chulik http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=11836 Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kick-off to summer, is upon us. Grills will be dusted off and fired up; burgers, brats and corn on the cob will be prepared; bikes will be ridden down ridiculously long paths; swimming pools will be cannonballed into; bathers will be sunned; time with family and friends will be had; and... work will be done? A new CareerBuilder study of more than 5,600 workers shows that many employees are excitedly taking the fishing rods out of storage, only to sadly put them back hours later in an Arrested Development George Michael-type moment. Due to financial constraints and demanding work schedules, many workers are giving up their vacation plans this year by either choice or necessity (see a snapshot here). Twenty-four percent of full-time workers, in fact, reported they can’t afford to take a vacation this year, up from 21 percent in 2010. Another 12 percent reported they can afford a vacation, but don’t have plans to take one this year. Despite these sour numbers, the majority of workers are still planning to take some time away from work -- the physical "work," at least. Three in ten workers plan to take work with them on vacation. Thirty percent said they will contact work while on vacation, up from 25 percent last year. On the flip side... While some workers are stuck pretending their vacuum is a jet-ski this year, more than one-third (36 percent) of workers reported feeling more comfortable taking a vacation than they did in 2010. The economy is healing in various ways, and some people's wallets are also healing enough that vacation is now an option. Twenty-six percent of workers are planning a vacation of 7 to 10 days, while 11 percent expect to be gone 2 weeks or longer. On the more conservative side, 24 percent are planning for a 3 to 5 days for vacation or a weekend getaway. And many (including CareerBuilder's own VP of HR), say traveling across the world or just setting up camp in your house -- and away from your office -- is good for your health and may translate to better work while in the office:
“Taking advantage of vacation or paid-time-off benefits is critical not only to your well-being, but to your overall job performance,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. “Workers who set aside time for R&R tend to have less burnout, more creative energy and higher quality output. While financial challenges and heavy workloads may make vacation planning difficult, it’s important to find time to recharge away or at home. It can ultimately translate into a more gratifying work experience that benefits you, your family and your employer.”
So, how can employers turn the vacation outlook from bleak to beachy? Here are Haefner's tips for helping your employees -- and you -- take better advantage of time off:]]> http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/05/26/lifes-a-beach-not-so-fast-say-some-vacation-less-workers/feed/atom/ 0 Have Fewer Business Trips Negatively Impacted Your Business? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/8tQv2LyL210/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/8tQv2LyL210/#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:30:05 +0000 Amy Chulik http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=10204 Silhouette of employee walking through airportIf you're like many companies, you, in the spirit of budget-cutting, slowed down employee travel in 2010 -- or even halted it altogether. According to a new CareerBuilder survey among more than 2,400 U.S. employers and more than 3,900 U.S. workers, 30 percent of companies say they cut back on business travel last year -- and it wasn't such a good move for many of them. Of the companies who cut back on travel, more than one-third (37 percent) said it negatively affected their business. Have you had a similar experience? Lack of business trips and the bottom line Budget cuts can often have ripple effects in other areas of the business. Many businesses who cut back on travel in 2010 had fewer opportunities for face-to-face meetings, leading to communication issues, hurdles in fostering client relationships, and, ultimately, fewer sales. When asked how fewer business trips affected their bottom lines, companies reported the following results:
  • Less effective internal communication: 12 percent
  • Fewer sales: 11 percent
  • Less effective execution on internal business initiatives: 10 percent
  • Less customer loyalty: 8 percent
How will this year be different? Based on 2010's results, will companies alter business travel frequency in 2011? For the most part, it appears they won't. The majority of companies (77 percent) report business travel levels will stay the same as last year. Eleven percent said their companies will take more business trips this year (perhaps to counter the negative effects of cutting back in 2010), while 13 percent said business travel will decrease. Although frequency of travel may be "business as usual" in 2011, many companies have started taking a different direction to help cut unnecessary expense: Altering the way that employees travel.
“Business travel is an important part of many companies’ operations as it lets them stay connected with clients and employees across the globe,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “Some companies are revisiting their policies, though, to ensure they’re maximizing the effectiveness of their business travel initiatives.”
How are companies keeping a closer eye on travel expenses?
  • Taking out the extravagance: Nearly one-third (32 percent) of companies are placing specific restrictions on business travel for employees since the recession, asking them to fly coach, lowering entertainment budgets, and having them only travel domestically.
  • Virtual meetings: Forty-two percent of companies said they rely more on phone/Web conferencing now to conduct business with clients, with 31 percent saying they get just as much out of virtual meetings as face-to-face meetings.
Tell me -- has your business cut down on employee travel, or otherwise changed policies around travel to cut costs? What has worked well -- and what wouldn't you do again?]]> http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/02/16/is-less-employee-travel-negatively-impacting-your-business/feed/atom/ 0 Small businesses plan to increase staff in 2011, but still face hiring challenges http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/SiGHIhLSeOU/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/SiGHIhLSeOU/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:21:28 +0000 Kaitlin Madden http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=10084 When it comes to recruiting, limited resources can mean that small businesses are often up against a separate set of challenges than large corporations. Luckily, creativity and innovation can go a long way when solving many of these problems. On Tuesday, for example, we told you about one of the common recruiting difficulties that small businesses face -- attracting and retaining employees -- and how developing and implementing a strong employment brand can be a creative way to resolve it. Unfortunately, though, some of the more pervasive recruiting roadblocks that small businesses face can be a little tougher to bypass. According to a new CareerBuilder survey on small business hiring trends for 2011, respondents said that they expect their biggest recruiting challenges this year will be related to accessing credit, government regulations and health insurance costs -- all problems which can be both difficult and frustrating to overcome. The survey, which polled more than 1,350 small businesses, found the greatest hiring challenges to be:
  • Cost of health insurance -- 50 percent
  • Access to credit -- 33 percent
  • Government regulations -- 27 percent
  • Marketing expenses and building awareness -- 26 percent
  • Attracting and hiring top talent -- 19 percent
Yet small businesses are nothing if not resilient, and despite these hiring issues, more small businesses still plan to increase headcount this year than in recent years past.]]> http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/02/03/small-businesses-still-face-hiring-challenges/feed/atom/ 0 Candidates’ Most Unusual Interview Mistakes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/DDCYwoXtdSY/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/DDCYwoXtdSY/#comments Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:42:33 +0000 Kaitlin Madden http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=9905 You’re a job seeker with an interview today. As you get ready to walk into the office of your potential employer, you’re most likely to: A. Give yourself a pep-talk about how you’ve got this one in the bag B. Check out your reflection in the glass doors to make sure you look as great as you think you do C. Chug the last of your beer and toss the can in the trash If you chose C. then you actually wouldn’t be alone (though you might want to re-think your career path). According to the results of CareerBuilder’s annual survey on outrageous and common interview mistakes, one job candidate actually polished off a beer before walking into the reception area on the day of his interview. And a job candidate with a buzz going is only the tip of the interview-blunder iceberg. Following are actual examples from hiring managers about the strangest job candidates they’ve encountered.
  • Candidate provided a detailed listing of how previous employer made them mad.
  • Candidate hugged hiring manager at the end of the interview.
  • Candidate ate all the candy from the candy bowl while trying to answer questions]]> http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/01/12/candidates-most-unusual-interview-mistakes/feed/atom/ 0 Might As Well Face It, You’re Addicted To… Work? How to Help Yourself — and Your Employees — Deal http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/kYsJQ_1Ct-E/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehiringsiteposts/~3/kYsJQ_1Ct-E/#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:37:08 +0000 Amy Chulik http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/?p=9602 Man and woman arguing because he is doing work in bedAre you one of those people addicted, not to love as Robert Palmer once claimed you were, but to work? Or worse yet, are your own employees stuck to their ergonomic yet stifling cubicle chairs, desperately looking for you to help them regain a sense of balance? You might have caught my recent blog post about the increased usage of mobile devices, and how the technologically "on" mentality these devices spur is affecting the way many people work -- even when they're not actually at work. While access to mobile devices may add pressure for workers to be available at all times of the day or night, it's just one of many reasons people are spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about, talking about, and even dreaming about Ryan Reynolds work these days. A new CareerBuilder study of more than 3,100 workers examines signs of work addiction, takes stock of how many workers are suffering from it, and explores ways workers can find a happy medium between work and personal time as we dive into 2011. Can you identify with any of the following signs of work addiction?
    1. You spend most of your day – including your free time – thinking about work. (24 percent of workers surveyed reported that when they’re at home or out socially, they’re still thinking about work. Nineteen percent say they often dream about work.)
    2. You're more concerned about what your boss thinks than your own family.
    3. You would rather be in your cubicle than in your home. (15 percent of workers surveyed said they feel this way.)
    ]]>     http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2011/01/04/might-as-well-face-it-youre-addicted-to-work-how-to-help-yourself-or-your-employees-deal/feed/atom/ 0