Archive for October, 2008

Wallpaper peeler, sleep clinic yawn counter, turkey wrangler and parachute tester … are these the best Halloween costumes of 2008? Actually, they are excerpts from a very interesting list of the most unusual jobs current employees admitted to once having which Amy spotlighted earlier this month. 

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• Posted by: CB Staff Writer on October 31, 2008
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• Categories: Job Postings, Products

I knew it!! Okay, so today my boss sent me this post from The Standard which argues the case that businesses can use social media as a strategic recruiting tool. (Ah, yes. I agree.)  But it goes even further, saying that sites like Facebook, MySpace and Bebo, for instance, are useful in engaging employees as well, and that, in fact, bosses should allow their employees to use social media sites at work. 

While I know I’ve argued the point of using these sites to help with recruiting tactics, I was actually a little surprised but also way psyched to hear the case for giving employees the freedom to peruse these sites during business hours.  But according to the Demos research the article mentions, using these sites can actually boost productivity and communication among employees. 

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• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on October 30, 2008
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• Categories: Employee Attraction, Employee Engagement, Social Media

I had an interesting conversation today with a VP of Global Recruiting for an international financial services firm, which inevitably turned to the current state of the American economy. To paraphrase his comments he said, “…yes, the economy is bad, but I still have commitments I need to deliver on for next year. I can’t have open sales positions. I have to complete our PeopleClick implementation. I have to make sure that my offices overseas are staffed. I have to advertise our company and the employment brand.” While acknowledging that the economy isn’t good, he also acknowledged that his business still needs to run – the world still turns.

This is an important lesson. We need to continue pushing forward. The environment will be more difficult, but it is in these difficult times that we will focus on the actions that really matter. And through those actions we will create success.

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• Posted by: Jason Ferrara on October 28, 2008
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• Categories: Economy, Employee Attraction, Employer Advice, Generational Hiring, Innovation

I recently attended the Pittsburgh Business Times Best Places to Work in Western Pennsylvania event. If you haven’t been to Pittsburgh in some time, if at all, I highly urge you to go. The city and the scenery are great – it is an accessible city nestled in rolling hills of low lying fog at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. I was there however not as a professional travel guide (although I can recommend restaurants and places to stay) but to celebrate some of the best places to work in the area.

The luncheon was attended by approximately 500 attendees – all finalists in the overall Best Places to Work contest. That list was then narrowed down to three finalists in a small business, medium business and large business category. And then the Pittsburgh Business Times crowned one area company as the overall champion. I was so impressed with the energy of the finalists and their dedication not only to their businesses but to their employees.

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• Posted by: Jason Ferrara on October 27, 2008
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• Categories: Employee Engagement, Employee Retention, Events

This is, by far, the best time of the year. The weather is cooling and the sports world is heating up. The World Series is featuring a worst-to-first contender, NBA training camps are under way and the college and pro gridirons are in full swing. But to be successful in the world of sports, you’ve got have to Mo on your side.

By “Mo,” I don’t mean the abbreviation for the Show-Me State. Or this guy.  Or the nickname for him. “Mo” is momentum.

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• Posted by: CB Staff Writer on October 27, 2008
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• Categories: Employee Engagement, Employer Advice, Leadership Development

In leading your organization, there will be times when everything just seems to be clicking, where all that you touch turns to gold, profits pour in and people sing your praises. 

And then there will be moments like most of us are currently experiencing, when the chips are down.

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• Posted by: CB Staff Writer on October 24, 2008
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• Categories: Employee Engagement, Employer Advice, Leadership Development