We’ve heard descriptions of “Talent Wars” returning in most industries -primarily in social media, medicine and technology. The Silicon Valley conveys accounts of extremely competitive and aggressive recruiting tactics used to steal skilled and quality workers. Here in northern Nevada we are seeing skilled and talented job seekers looking at more job openings and accepting jobs faster.

With hiring on the rise, employers are utilizing staffing services to aid them in sifting through hundreds of resumes, interviewing, and testing candidates to narrow the field down to the best of the best talent. More candidates are applying for positions in their chosen field versus over-qualified candidates applying for any position they can get to keep the wolf at bay. The luxury days of employers seeing a wide variety of high-end superior candidates knocking at their door is going by the wayside.

Yes, the talent wars are heating up and here are a few tips for employers to prepare for the campaign:

Schedule interviews as quickly as possible and avoid a too lengthy decision-making process. Right now, two to three weeks is too long. The quality candidates you see today might be receiving an offer from your competitor tomorrow.

Prepare your talent management strategy to include sophisticated recruiting techniques, well-developed and in-depth employee orientations and superb retention plans.

Be a splendid example of employee and business best practices. Attract talent rather than repel by being known for taking care of your employees and publicly recognizing them, competitive compensation, excellent leadership and offering development/training opportunities.

Written by Susan Fix, The Applied Companies Community Liaison Partner. Fix has worked 15 years in staffing services performing outside sales, recruiting, permanent and temporary placement coordination, career counseling, customer service and social media/business.

According to most sources, Richard Nixon, was the first president of the United States to sign a proclamation (on April 20, 1974) establishing National Volunteer Week. Calling “the spirit of voluntarism one of the hallmarks of American life,” Nixon designated the week of April 21 be observed by “seeking out an area in their community in which they can give to a needy individual or a worthy cause by devoting a few hours, or more, each week to volunteer service.”  He also called on communities to recognize volunteers with “special ceremonies.”  [Proclamation 4288 – The American Presidency Project]

One of the benefits offered at The Applied Companies is the ability to give back to the community through our paid volunteerism policy. An option offered to our employees during National Volunteer Week is helping our partner in education, Risley Elementary School. Our staff will be manning computers to help with spring registration.

Would you like to showcase your company or organization’s volunteer efforts during National Volunteer Week?Nevada Volunteers will post your stories, comments (a short sentence or two) and photos to their blog and Facebook/Twitter audiences. Contact Lindsay Bridges at Lindsay@NevadaVolunteers.org for more information.

Written by Susan Fix, The Applied Companies Community Liaison Partner. Fix has worked 15 years in staffing services performing outside sales, recruiting, permanent and temporary placement coordination, career counseling, customer service and social media/business.

Tread by tread moving forward, with courage we’re built,
we pick up our pieces and create a new quilt.
Our character fabric smart, savvy and true
is willing and able to find new revenue.

Let’s pool our resources, fresh ideas can be seeded,
streamline procedures, take action as needed.
Efficiency initiatives, all the new buzz,
keep jobs in America, back the way it was.

Green is for growing and reorganization,
prioritize services, use innovation.
Green is money, a local merchant it supports,
buy from the community and give good reports.

Now Reno, now Sparks, now Las Vegas and Carson!
On Fernley, on Fallon, Elko and Henderson!
Recharge Nevada, renewed energy install,
let us lead by example; it’s up to us all! 

A positive message must be heard through the land
solutions are called for, as united we stand.
Seeing Nevada up on her feet, what a sight,
happy healing to all, and to all a good night!

Written by Susan Fix, The Applied Companies Community Liaison Partner. Fix has worked 15 years in staffing services performing outside sales, recruiting, permanent and temporary placement coordination, career counseling, customer service and social media/business.

Perhaps this is a good time to refresh ourselves on effective meeting etiquette. I remember the days when all meetings were run under strict parliamentary procedures guided by Robert’s Rules of Order. Knowledge of the rules was once held in such high esteem people put it on their resume as a skill.

Now in our fast-paced, high tech society we see articles like the one in The Wall Street Journal describing "stand-up meetings” and people holding ten pound medicine balls to eliminate wasted time, long-winded discussions and folks playing games or texting on their cell phones.

Whatever type of meeting you attend, here are a few rules of courtesy that will help us spend our time wisely.

Be On Time

Arrive at least five minutes early. Late arrivals cause distractions and delay the agenda. Respect everyone’s treasured timeframes, including your own. When we arrive early, the meeting can start on time and possibly end early – yay! Party bonus!

End Conversations Before Start Time

Appreciate the challenge of a moderator getting a meeting started and ended on time. Be in your seat and discontinue discussions before the call to order. Loud on-going conversations delay attempts to get the group on task.

Put Away the Cell Phone

If you must carry your cell phone into a meeting, please put it on vibrate. Keep it in your pocket or purse or place it on a notepad. The sound of it vibrating against a hard surface is as diverting as the sound of it ringing. Are you really giving your full attention to the meeting’s purpose and putting on your “thinking cap” when you’re texting or playing games?

Allow Speakers to Finish Their Thoughts

Interrupting the person who has the floor (their turn to speak) stops the train of thought and valuable insight might be left unsaid. Write your questions or concepts on a notepad. Ask for clarification or state your opinion when it’s your turn to have the floor. Refrain from “sounding off” because you have strong feelings about a subject - make your point quickly and efficiently.

Sidebars

Although it has a different dictionary definition, sidebars has become a term used to describe two or more people carrying on a separate conversation during a meeting. The chatting may be relevant to the topic; however it interrupts the flow of the meeting and diverts attention away from the person who has the floor. This is a case where silence really is golden.  

Written by Susan Fix, The Applied Companies Community Liaison Partner. Fix has worked 15 years in staffing services performing outside sales, recruiting, permanent and temporary placement coordination, career counseling, customer service and social media/business.