Comments on: War For Talent: Fact vs Fiction

By: jgo

jgo — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:35:29 +0000

More things that could be done if the federal government and the executives were serious about recruiting US citizens.
executives:
* include human contact name, e-mail address (in CAPTCHA form to discourage spammers), and voice telephone number in every help-wanted ad
* clearly state in ads that relocation within the USA and new-hire training will be provided to those hired

government:
update tax incentives for expenses of flying in US citizens for interviews, relocating US citizens, and education and training of US citizens. Why “update”? To catch up with inflation (especially costs of transportation & training) and the reduced marginal value of current tax breaks due to reduced corporate income tax rates and the fact, reported this year, that half of major corporations pay no income taxes as it is.

By: chris

chris — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:10:50 +0000

It is not only in the IT industry but accounting/tax industry as well. Only difference is in the accounting/tax industry it is replaced by cheap foreign labors from China and not India. Even though Indians are taking over this industry now. I am a CPA with Masters degree and employers are passing on me because I’m asking too much (even though they adamantly deny this fact).

Also what is wrong with these corporate recruiters. They contact me (not the other way around) but they express this superiority because people like myself are looking for jobs that either dont exist or going to foreigners. I just pretend I don’t know about this fraud and play along with their scam. I just laugh silently at these ignorant recruiters because they think they’re fooling the qualified Americans. They think qualified Americans are getting frustrated because we’re not getting jobs! We qualified Americans are getting frustrated because Corporate America is screwing us over big time. Know the difference!

When WAMU went bankrupt I e-mailed to one of the recruiters there and asked how she felt about being one of us now. Never got a response so either she was laid off beforehand or she is too ashamed to respond back. I know recruiters jobs are being replaced by foreigners also…Pathetic

By: karen m

karen m — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:15:35 +0000

Not sure if I understand exactly what you are asking MN, but let me try a stab at this.

Your question is – If I were a corporation, what Would I do to recruit for open positions?

First off, are there really any open positions out there.. Considering that in the first four months of this year alone employers have already cut 260,000 jobs, and on Friday the government is expected to report an additional 60,000 losses in May. QUOTED

Okay, yes of course there are some jobs out there.. but again, if companies Really want to consider Keeping good employees they will need to be competitive (that is the STRONGEST SIGN that there is a war for talent). They will need to Fight to keep the candidates happy..

If there really was a war, this is what they would do –
1 RAISE SALARIES especially making them proportionate to the economy
2 Be more Work/Employee friendly
3 Provide better benefits to all of their employees (shoot, what am I saying.. today’s economy, I guess they need to Start providing benefits altogether far less better)
4 – create a more stable work environment to promote longevity
5 – Take less time to hire individuals, and treat candidates with more respect, and not have a superior attitude with regards to employment (another sure sign of a war for talent)
6 – Treat Recruiters with more respect, and not sent them on wild goose chases for jobs that don’t exist
7 – educate their OWN INTERNAL employees and promote from within (another HUGE sign of war for talent which of course has been lacking, like the others)
8 – would focus on their NEEDS versus their WANTS, and understand the difference. Example, they would realize that it isn’t necessary to ask for College Education (BA degree) for a Secretary to work Part time, and on a contract. They would recognize that EXPERIENCE Counts and not forget to add 3 very Important words.. OR EQUIVALENT EXPERIENCE!
9 – Quit Discriminating. Again, look at Experience, not the face!
10 – They would recognize the importance and VALUE of the American Employee, and not on the Dollar

By: MN Headhunter

MN Headhunter — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:22:36 +0000

Karen,

I have been working on a blog post for next week called “The War For Talent, 80% Myth 20% Reality.

I agree with some of what you said but not entirely. That’s the way it is some times.

My question and one I have been working on is this, if you were a corporation would specifically would you do to recruit for open positions?

You have done some of that already but I am thinking about some bullet points.

Thanks.

By: karen m

karen m — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:14:35 +0000

Troubled American, what you said actually has a lot of validity, but, unfortunately the message was lost with the finger pointing and the labelling.. Again this was unfortunate!

It was definitely challenging to get through your post.

The recession in America has been happening longer than many realize, and the American Dream is no longer a reality, for many of the reasons that you described.

Unfortunately many here are unaware of how dire the circumstances are. Is it because we have been offered a story that really isn’t as accurate as the true picture, and we chose to accept? or is it because we just were too busy to be aware of what was going on around us? Or maybe it is that with human nature it isn’t till reality hits us in the face that we even see it.. IE the gas crisis today!

We do need to become more aware that we are being sold a bill of goods, and it is time that we start paying attention, or things will get much worse than they are.. The ball will keep on bouncing, with no way to stop!

Karen Mattonen

By: Troubled American

Troubled American — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:00:52 +0000

Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars which have been transfered FROM US TO THEM. All over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They just keep getting richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductible crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any ‘humanitarian’ progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. So don’t fall for any of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductible contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGenerous, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool. No offense fellow citizens. But we have been mislead by nearly every public figure. WAKE UP PEOPLE. THEIR GOAL IS TO WIN THE GAME. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Reaganomics. Their idea. Loans from China. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. High energy prices. Their idea. Oil ‘futures’. Their idea. Obscene health care charges. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. The multi-million dollar endorsement deal. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. Brainwash plots on TV. Their idea. Vioxx, and Celebrex. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed, credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of the above shrink the middle class, concentrate the world’s wealth and resources, create a dominoe effect of socio-economic problems, and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and politicians. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for any of their ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTIBLE PR CRAP. In many cases, the ‘charitable’ contribution is almost entirely offset. Not to mention the opportunity to plug their name, image, product, and ‘good will’ all at once. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. These filthy pigs even have the nerve to throw a fit and spin up a misleading defense with regard to ‘federal tax revenue’. ITS A SHAM. THEY SCREWED UP THE EQUATION TO BEGIN WITH. If the middle and lower classes had a greater share of the pie, they could easily cover a greater share of the federal tax revenue. They are held down in many ways because of greed. Wages remain stagnant for millions because the executives, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, and entrepreneurs, are paid millions. They over-sell, over-charge, under-pay, outsource, cut jobs, and benefits to increase their bottom line. As their profits rise, so do the stock values. Which are owned primarily by the richest 5%. As more United States wealth rises to the top, the middle and lower classes inevitably suffer. This reduces the potential tax reveue drawn from those brackets. At the same time, it wreaks havok on middle and lower class communities and increases the need for financial aid. Not to mention the spike in crime because of it. There is a dominoe effect to consider. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. But our leaders refuse to acknowledge this. Instead they come up with one trick after another to milk the system and screw the majority. These decisions are heavily influensed by the 1% club. Every year, billions of federal tax dollars are diverted behind the scenes back to the rich and their respective industries. Loans from China have been necessary to compensate in part, for the red ink and multi-trillion dollar transfer of wealth to the rich. At the same time, the feds have been pushing more financial burden onto the states who push them lower onto the cities. Again, the hardship is felt more by the majority and less by the 1% club. The rich prefer to live in exclusive areas or upper class communities. They get the best of everything. Reliable city services, new schools, freshly paved roads, upscale parks, ect. The middle and lower class communities get little or nothing without a local tax increase. Which, they usually can’t afford. So the red ink flows followed by service cuts and lay-offs. All because of the OBSCENE distribution of bottom line wealth in this country. So when people forgive the rich for their incredible greed and then praise them for paying a greater share of the FEDERAL income taxes, its like nails on a chalk board. I can not accept any theory that our economy would suffer in any way with a more reasonable distribution of wealth. Afterall, it was more reasonable 30 years ago. Before Reaganomics came along. Before GREED became such an epidemic. Before we had an army of over-paid executives, bankers, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, doctors, investors, entrepreneurs, developers, and sold-out politicians to kiss their asses. As a nation, we were in much better shape. Strong middle class, free and clear assets, lower crime rate, more widespread prosperity, stable job market, lower deficit, ect. Our economy as a whole was much more stable and prosperous for the majority. WITHOUT LOANS FROM CHINA. Now, we have a more obscene distribution of bottom line wealth than ever before. We have a sold-out government, crumbling infrastructure, energy crisis, home forclosure epidemic, 13 figure national deficit, and 12 figure annual shortfall. The cost of living is higher than ever before. Most people can’t even afford basic health care. ALL BECAUSE OF GREED. I really don’t blame the 2nd -5th percentiles in general. No economy could ever function without some reasonable scale of personal wealth and income. But it can’t be allowed to run wild like a mad dog. ALBERT EINSTEIN TRIED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. UNBRIDLED CAPITALISM ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK. TOP HEAVY ECONOMIES ALWAYS COLLAPSE. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. The American dream will be shattered. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HUMANITARIAN. EXTREME WEALTH MAKES WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman.. Of course, they will jump to small minded conclusions about ‘jealousy’, ‘envy’, or ’socialism’. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

By: Amie

Amie — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:57:09 +0000

Wow Karen! What a great rant. (Sounds like a good intro to a podcast..hmmm..)

What I have noticed is that I am not fighting a war to find great candidates, but that I have SEVERAL candidates that are desperate to find new employment.

Here in Ohio, things are worse than most of the US. With the NAFTA agreement, Ohio has lost more jobs than any other state in the US. We had 3.7% job loss in Ohio in 2007, WORSE than the great depression where there was only 3.4% loss. Ohio had the largest increase in food stamp enrollment ever last year with 1 out of every 10 families recieving assistance. If anyone wants to see how bleak things are, Ohio is the place to look. I have lived here my entire life, and the amazing thing is that this is not just one area of Ohio that is suffering, it is the whole state. Many are not waiting for things to change, they are moving to where jobs are.

Prices are high, Gas is unbelievable, and I think we are naturally going to see recruitment wane and if people are wise, they will cross train in other modalities to allow job security. I have been very lucky, but I also am very aware that job loss can happen to anyone at anytime. Look at Bear Stearn and other companies who you never imagined would go under. Times are tough, but there will always be a need for HR professionals to recruit talent. Maybe not at the high numbers that are recruiters now, but there will always be a need..

By: karen m

karen m — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:34:56 +0000

Maren,
thanks for the post.. Candidates are demanding more money because of the Raise in inflation.. They have bills to pay, but unfortuanately salaries unlike other times did not rise appropriately with inflation, instead they went backwards -adjusted for inflation..

We work longer, we work harder, for less money. Today the average american makes less money than their grandparents.. Yet in every other generation, the one that preceeded the other always made more, and lived better than the other..

Today inflation has risen through the roof – housing up 2000 percent since the 70’s – energy went up 17 percent this last year alone, and of course health insurance went up 10 percent also this last year. Goodness we cannot even afford to Die.. that went up 5 Percent, but wages,, they DECREASED (adjusted for inflation)

Today we depend on 2 Salaries in a family to make ends meet..
today “About four out of five middle-class families do not have sufficient assets to cover three quarters of essential living expenses for even three months should their source of income disappear. We defined essential living expenses as food, housing, clothing, transportation, health care, personal care, education, personal insurance and pensions.
TWO OUT OF THREE MIDDLE CLASS AMERICAN FAMILIES ON SHAKY FINANCIAL GROUND, Landmark study based on new “Middle Class Security Index” developed by Demos and Brandeis University”

I apologize for my continual responses here, but we really have not even begun to see the effects this has on our economy Today, and where we are heading if it continues on this path.

This recession is NOT a recession, but actually is a stagflation.. it is harder to get out of.. and is much more painful..

To Readjust our economy as it needs to be, it MUST Run it’s course, and the Feds need to Quit ‘doctoring” the economy with their low rates that lower the dollar, and create much higher standards which will bring back the American Dollar to our borders, via the lost jobs.

The economy must Heal itself, and to do that it has to go through a recovery process, it took us a LONG time to get here, no, not just the last couple of years.. you see that last “recession” we did not feel the pain from that because the Feds helped “fix” the problem, and they did such a “great” job with it.. (lowering rates for example) that we are Now in the mess that we are in today.

Maren, those companies, if they REALLY cared, they would Consider paying the extra 2-3 dollars an hour to those employees, instead of dealing with the High Expense of turnover.. They would provide more flexible schedules, and regarding nursing Schools, they would spend more money Expanding their classes, instead of turning away the Students Trying to break into the field.. Tens of thousands of qualified nursing school applicants were turned away last year because U.S. nursing schools lacked educational capacity, particularly with respect to faculty. http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2006/11/08/nurses-mythbusting-the-nursing-shortage/print/

There are some interesting myths regarding that shortage as well..

Hmm here is another question which may appear off track, but is on the same path about companies doing everythign to Make more, no matter how much it hurts us..

With so many individuals in america who cannot afford health care far less medication – well even though many states have set up Medication Recycling for the poor, many hospitals continue to Throw away their medication even though it is still Good, unexpired..

Yes, it isn’t about the US in the U.S..
Karen

By: Maren Hogan

Maren Hogan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:02:41 +0000

Karen,

I find it interesting to see your take on this. I love what you write and enjoy hearing you tell it like it is. As a managing partner in a firm that searches in all verticals I find it interesting that we can lose (say nurses) for around 2-3 per hour (they get a better offer, albeit minimal) and yet are receiving tons of resumes from people I would have been hard pressed to find just a few years ago.

If what you say is true, then the candidates also must believe this hype, because many of them are insisting on much higher salaries than the HMs are offering, demanding relo or whatnot. Some are flat-out leaving jobs that will not allow telecommuting. Work life balance, all the buzzwords.

Maybe my take is different because I am in the middle of the country but if you are saying that recruiting is the easy part and finding companies to pay what they ought to and respect the workers is the hard part, I can get behind that.

Additionally, I find that ageism (against people older than 45 or so) is rampant here. That and a disinclination to interview people who have been at one company for their whole career. Weird!

By: karen m

karen m — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:46:38 +0000

David,
When I read your post, the first thing that I thought is well done, the propaganda really does work..

There is No War for Talent, nor is there a War for people – The Talent IS THERE — The problem is, that they are too old, they are not the right color, race, nationality, or they are too American –

Ever wondered why some companies would need a Receptionist to have a Bachelor’s degree? Is that a MINIMUM OBJECTIVE QUALIFICATION — can you PROVE that a bachelor’s degree is necessary for that job, or even for many jobs? VERY FEW JOBS require a bachelor’s degree.. yet, they are requested.. many don’t realize but requesting a degree can be considered discriminatory for positions that a degree does Not Meet the Minimum Objective Qualifications.. yes that also includes high School diploma.. ah.. one of the first eeoc cases by the way, was based upon diploma..

what about financial background checks, and unrelated testing.. meaning testing individuals for positions where the testing doesn’t meet the MINUMUM OBJECTIVE QUALIFICATIONS. Again this also can bring about potential for discrimination..

David.. if companies had a WAR for Talent, as I mentioned, they would be handling Employees with kid gloves, and would do anything to Improve Retention.. The points I mentioned above..
Higher Wages; Better Beneifits; Making you employees, not contractors; They would hire faster; they would be less picky and have lessor discriminatory practices..

Nah, there isn’t a War AT ALL — just a lot of Hype that many of us are just willing to ACCEPT as being Real!

Why I say, ASK QUESTIONS, DON’T TAKE IT ALL AT FACE VALUE and most of all see YOUR part in it as a recruiter! Cause in the long run, it isn’t worth your ROI

karen mattonen

P.S Mott.. thanks so much for catching that.. indeed it should be Fewer! It does make quite a difference! Thanks