| In order to answer the question "How to reduce HR | | | | |
| hiring cycle time?" we need to first understand the | | | | 1. Build flexibility into your organization. The HR |
| problem. Most hiring managers assume that there is an | | | | department needs to work with managers and |
| abundance of candidates available in the market. They | | | | organizational leadership to create flexible work |
| think that people that would be happy to join their | | | | environments. In large metro areas, commute times |
| organization and ready-to-go with an arsenal of skills | | | | have become impossible. If a job is on the other side |
| to do the job properly. | | | | of town, a potential employee will just not consider it |
| When they begin to work with their HR partner or with | | | | due to the thought of commuting there five days a |
| their assigned recruiter, they really don't believe them | | | | week. But, if the commute was just two or three days |
| when they are told, "You really have no idea how few | | | | a week (or off hours) and the rest of the time could |
| qualified candidates there are out there." As the | | | | be spent in a home office, now the job is appealing. |
| baby-boomers begin to retire in droves, it will become | | | | Flexible work arrangements for your current |
| more and more challenging to fill open positions within | | | | employees can also go a long way in reducing attrition |
| our organizations. According to Jim Sirbasku, CEO of | | | | and increasing productivity. |
| Profiles International, The workforce crisis is being | | | | 2. Understand what makes your successful people |
| driven into a "perfect storm" of catastrophic | | | | tick. Winning organizations should employ some type of |
| proportions by... | | | | job matching or assessment testing technology to |
| - A significant drop in the growth rate of the labor | | | | understand what makes top performers successful. |
| force | | | | Understanding their thinking style, behavioral traits, and |
| - The impending retirement of Baby Boomers | | | | occupational interests can go a long way in hiring |
| - A continuing paradigm shift from physical labor to a | | | | successful employees. It can speed up the interview |
| knowledge worker economy | | | | process and ultimately reduce attrition. Both will lower |
| Soon, the worldwide demand for labor will outstrip | | | | HR hiring cycle time. |
| supply by 35 million jobs essentially draining $3.5 trillion in | | | | 3. Grow your organization from within. Count on your |
| annual output from the global economy -- an impact | | | | current employees to find your new ones. A robust |
| sure to be felt worldwide. According to a report from | | | | employee referral program can generate an amazing |
| the US Mayor's forum, 45 major metro markets have | | | | pipeline of qualified candidates who are already |
| seen a decrease in their labor force since the year | | | | pre-screened. Create an incentive that means |
| 2000. The Mayor's forum also cited that the US labor | | | | something and don't differentiate by grade or position |
| force growth has been lead by the fast growing Sun | | | | title (how would you feel if your position was valued at |
| Belt and Mountain metros with some of them | | | | $3,000.00 while your co-worker's was valued at |
| experiencing employment growth at a 7.7% annual | | | | $150.00?). Have your HR department commit to |
| rate. Rapid employment growth continues for cities like | | | | contacting and at least having a phone conversation |
| Las Vegas, Phoenix, Orlando, and Raleigh. | | | | with every employee referral. Oh, and get back to the |
| As people continue to migrate from colder climates to | | | | referrer. Nothing is worse than never hearing the |
| warmer areas, the loss of human capital will continue | | | | outcome of the effort. Experience demonstrates that |
| to impact large urban areas like Chicago and Boston | | | | a robust employee referral program can generate |
| where job growth is steady and unemployment | | | | 70% of new hires! |
| continues to be very low. According to the US Bureau | | | | There is a perfect labor storm brewing-fewer people |
| of Labor Statistics, in June 2007, 98 metropolitan areas | | | | and more jobs. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to |
| recorded unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up | | | | understand that finding good people and at the same |
| from 83 areas a year earlier. | | | | time figuring out how to reduce HR hiring cycle time is |
| So, now that the problem has been identified, how do | | | | a difficult challenge. By increasing organizational |
| we get back to the question "How to reduce HR hiring | | | | flexibility, understanding what makes your top |
| cycle time?" There are three key areas that any | | | | performers tick, and growing your organization from |
| organization needs to think about when it comes to | | | | within, you can begin to make an impact. |
| reducing hiring cycle time: | | | | |