IT Organizations Tuning Up Employee Recruitment Efforts

Published: July 20, 2009

by Dan Burger

If you believe none of what you hear and half of what you see, you might be inclined to think the worst of the recession is over and the economy is on the rebound. Not for everyone and not in every county and state in this country, and not in every country around the world, but there are trustworthy indicators that at least back up such a belief. I say trustworthy because I'm not talking about casual observations such as red sky at night, IBM AS/400 customers' delight. And I'm not echoing the shouts of swollen TV talking heads.

The Federal Reserve is predicting the economy will grow as much as 3.3 percent in 2010 and as much as 4.6 percent in 2011. A reputable consulting firm, Macroeconomic Advisers, is predicting third quarter 2009 economic growth at 2.9 percent compared to the year-ago period. And the Economics Cycles Research Institute, which studies long-term, mid-term, and short-term indicators with a three-month minimum tendency in one direction, says the analytical trends show a strengthening economy. (Credit Newsweek and Forbes for doing the spade work with the above-mentioned sources.)

More pertinent to the IT industry and of greater interest to IT professionals seeking new employment opportunities are the survey results from CareerBuilders, a "human systems integrator" that specializes in matching people with skills to organizations with jobs that require them.

Organizations that actively develop a human resources advantage by creating desirable workplaces, known in marketing as "employment branding," are on the move. According to the survey, 76 percent of IT employers who have employment brands are taking measures to strengthen those employment brands, so they are competitively positioned for an economic recovery.

Based on the survey of more than 2,500 human resource professionals, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilders, IT organizations are revising recruitment messaging and investing more in promoting career advancement, flexibility, and a work culture that values employees. Included in the findings are these snapshots of the IT workplace:

• 28 percent are revising job listings to emphasize a positive work culture
• 25 percent are offering more flexible work schedules
• 22 percent are outlining potential career paths for current and future employees
• 19 percent are revamping their company career sites
• 16 percent are offering more employee recognition programs
• 13 percent are revising recruitment materials

Other measures being taken to prepare for when the economy turns around include:

• 24 percent are planning a new marketing strategy
• 31 percent are working on a new product line or enhancing existing products
• 13 percent are ramping up training programs
• 9 percent are implementing a new succession plan

Among economic indicators that signal a recovery, employment is often misconstrued. A boost in employment follows an economic recovery, it doesn't lead it. However, in terms of trend analysis, you can plot a curve of job losses and the unemployment rates and monitor increases from the low points. That, according to Economics Cycles Research Institute, is what has been occurring recently, with a certain amount of wiggle up and down month to month, in the United States.

RELATED STORIES

OCEAN Conference Emphasizes Higher Education, Lower Fees

Who's the Fool When it Comes to Training?

IT Doing Better Than Other Careers in 2009

System i Skills: Building Bridges Over the Generation Gap

                     Post this story to del.icio.us
               Post this story to Digg
    Post this story to Slashdot