Aureus Group Annual Hiring Trends Survey

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in January that job gains exceeded job losses for the first time since December 2007. In fact, job losses have steadily decreased from a high of 8.5 million in December 2008 to the lowest level since the series began in 1992. Is this a sure sign the economy is on a steady uphill climb? With unemployment stubbornly planted at 9% according to the most recent BLS report, 2011 hiring is on the minds of many.

2011 Talent Strategy and Workforce Planning

Internal shifts in strategy and external market pressures are so accelerated that often planning feels as obsolete as fax machines. And planning using yesterday’s information is not insightful or predictive enough. Although the majority of organizational leaders are certainly vocal about the pain caused by not having the right people on the bus, they still don’t seem to get the whole picture. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that an ounce of planning equals a pound of production. Strategies are remarkably similar from one company to another. The difference is execution: attracting the right talent, keeping them, and then unlocking their potential.

People Challenges of the Next Decade and How to Meet Them

Top executives say the two biggest challenges facing HR in the coming decade will be retaining and rewarding the best people, and attracting the best people. Leaders are debating how organizations and societies can make the most of human capital. The rise of emerging markets, the global financial crisis, and demographic pressures are among the forces pushing companies to become more global. It’s likely that companies will grow less centralized and flatter, giving more decision-making responsibilities to employees further down in the hierarchy and potentially at earlier stages in their careers.

The 2011 Salary Increase Question

Budget time is right around the corner. Senior managers and HR professionals are starting to plan for what their organizations will be doing as we get into the 2011 budgeting cycle. Since raises have been slim the last couple of years, I’ve been asking executives from all industries how they are handling the salary raise question. Our customers shared early forecasts that 2011 raises will be better, but not by all that much. This information was remarkably consistent across most industry sectors and positions from executives to middle management, technical, financial and clerical positions.

Building your Network Through Mentorship

I have several professional mentors and continue to look for more. Recently I asked someone I admire for advice on how to approach a new business partnership. The candid, “keep it simple” advice was exactly what I needed. The words of wisdom and vote of confidence helped me to switch gears a bit, allowing me to put my best foot forward. When I thanked my friend from Pennsylvania, he responded by telling me, “It’s not that I’m that smart, I’ve been around a while; I listen to knowledge and repeat it”. He is so humble.

Two New Tax Benefits for Employers

Aimed at providing hiring incentives to restore some of the jobs lost in the latest economic recession, and to help put Americans back to work as soon as possible, the IRS recently updated language in the HIRE (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment) Act, which offers employment tax incentives to businesses, established in March 2010.

This new $17.5 billion legislation (scaled down from an earlier $150 billion package) is of particular interest to businesses as it includes new tax benefits directly related to hiring employees and writing off investments in business equipment.

Update Your Job Descriptions and Hire Smart

The employees you hire can make or break your business. Don’t make the common error of skipping the job analysis and updating of job descriptions. Take the time to figure out your staffing needs and know what you’re looking for in an employee before you actually start looking. This exercise will save you time and money in the long run.

Are you an Effective Communicator?

We continue to hear from clients and candidate’s what motivates and frustrates them in the workplace. Not surprisingly, increased communication is the common denominator on everyone’s’ wish list. It’s evident that today’s business climate requires collaboration vertically and horizontally. It’s not enough to just work hard. It’s not enough to do a great job. To be successful, you need to learn how to really communicate with others.

Have you ever gotten frustrated because you weren’t able to communicate your ideas as effectively as you wanted and people just weren’t getting it? Maybe you’ve walked away from a discussion with a different perspective than your co-worker, boss, or employee? Or worse, have you ever written or received an email that was taken way out of context?

Don’t worry. You’re not the only one. I answered yes to all three questions!

Examining Employer Frustrations and Hiring Motivators: Recent Aureus Group Survey Results may Adjust your Workforce and Career Planning Strategies

During the last couple years employers have learned a great deal about the importance of employee engagement and motivation. But what are employer motivations? In the effort to bridge the communication gap, Aureus Group recently turned the tables and asked hiring managers and HR professionals about their professional frustrations to better understand the challenges employers face.

Our recent survey exploring not only management frustrations, but also hiring motivators included hiring managers in our practice areas of Accounting and Finance, Information Systems and Technology, and Executive search throughout the Midwest.

Use the results we received combined with our independent comments in your workforce or career planning strategies.

Aureus Group Q1 Employee of the Quarter

Each quarter Aureus Group asks who in our team is making the most difference and focusing on activities that will help us meet our goals. We look to see who our MVP is and who is going above and beyond. Using the criteria below, the Employee of the Quarter is voted on by the entire Aureus Group staff: