41% of Employers Suffering Loss of Productivity Due to Difficulty Hiring for I.T., Sales, Engineering, Other Positions

Matt Ferguson, CEO of Careerbuilder

The growing deficit of skilled labor needed to fill in-demand jobs is causing a drag on employers across the globe. A significant number of employers in the ten largest world economies said that extended job vacancies have resulted in lower revenue and productivity and the inability to grow their businesses. Employers in China were the most likely to report having open positions they cannot fill and corresponding negative effects on their company performance. Russia houses the largest percentage of employers reporting a revenue shortfall tied to extended job vacancies while the U.S. is among those most likely to report a productivity loss. Japan ranked high among those who said the inability to find skilled talent has impeded expansion of their businesses.

The global CareerBuilder survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive^© from November 1 to November 30, 2012, included more than 6,000 hiring managers and human resource professionals in countries with the largest gross domestic product.

“The inability to fill high skill jobs can have an adverse ripple effect, hindering the creation of lower-skilled positions, company performance and economic expansion,” said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. “Major world economies are feeling the effects of this in technology, healthcare, production and other key areas. The study underlines how critical it is for the government, private sector and educational institutions to work together to prepare and reskill workers for opportunities that can help move the needle on employment and economic growth.” Continue Reading

Optimism By Employers: India Most and Italy Least

Matt Ferguson, CEO of Careerbuilder

A new job forecast for the 10 largest world economies tells a tale of both confidence and caution. Brazil and India are voicing the greatest confidence with more than two-thirds of employers in these markets planning to add full-time, permanent headcount in 2013. Italy is the least optimistic, housing more employers who expect to decrease staff than those who expect to hire.

“The job outlook presents varying degrees of growth and deceleration as governments and businesses strive to rebuild and expand and deal with large deficits,” said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. “Hiring activity in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) is projected to be significantly higher than other markets while recruitment in Europe remains sluggish as leaders struggle to resolve a debt crisis that has global implications. The overall hiring picture is improving, but companies will remain watchful as they navigate headwinds and maneuver through somewhat precarious economic terrain.” Continue Reading

15 Toughest Interview Questions (and Answers!)

You may face some tough questions during an interview.  So, in order to prepare you for one, check out the following post covering some challenging questions and how to answer them.

Good interview questions, better answers

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15 Toughest Interview Questions (and Answers!)

How to Use Google to Make More Direct Hires

If they are not already doing so, employers may want to consider using Google to recruit new workers.  How can they maximize their chances for hiring with this tool?  The following post has some helpful tips.

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How to Use Google to Make More Direct Hires

5 Strategies to Sell Well

How can you learn to sell effectively?  The following post has five strategies that can help.

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5 Strategies to Sell Well

54% of Employers Plan to Hire Recent College Grads

The college graduating class of 2012 is heading into a better job market than alumni of the previous three years, according to a new study. More than half of employers (54 percent) reported they plan to hire recent college graduates in 2012, up from 46 percent in 2011, 44 percent in 2010 and 43 percent in 2009. The national survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive from February 9 to March 2, 2012, included more than 2,000 hiring managers across industries and company sizes.

“This is the first time since the recession that we’re seeing a majority of employers planning to add recent college graduates to their employee roster,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. “Companies across industries are placing a strong emphasis on recruiting fresh talent for technology-related roles and positions designed to drive revenue – and they’re willing to pay more for high-skill, educated labor.”

How much will college grads likely earn?

Of those who plan to hire recent college graduates, 29 percent expect to offer higher starting salaries than they did in 2011. While employers were most likely to report that they would pay between $30,000 and $40,000, a significant portion will extend offers exceeding $50,000. Continue Reading

Best Fields for 2012 Grads Are Accounting, Finance, Engineering, and Computer Science

As the economy continues to slowly improve, so do the prospects for entry-level job candidates who are expected to benefit from companies’ need to rebuild “bench strength” after cutting millions of workers during the recession. However, while this year’s crop of 1.7 million college graduates should fare slightly better than last year’s, the job market will remain fiercely competitive, according to a new outlook from global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

The college graduates who are likely to have the most success are those with the flexibility to go wherever the jobs are and those seeking positions in the occupations expected to see the most growth over the next decade. Among the top fields are accounting and finance, engineering, computer science, sales and marketing, elementary education, and health care and social services. Continue Reading

94% of Employers Okay With Candidates Who Took Lower Level Jobs During Recession

The vast majority of employers – 85 percent – reported that they are more understanding of employment gaps post-recession. Nine-in-ten (94 percent) said they wouldn’t think less of a candidate who took a position during the recession that was at a lower level than the one he/she previously held. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive© among more than 3,000 employers across industries and company sizes.

“More than 5 million workers in the U.S. have been unemployed for six months or longer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources for CareerBuilder. “While job seekers have voiced concern over how they may be perceived if they’ve been out of work for a while or took a job for which they were overqualified to make ends meet, the study shows employers understand the tough challenges the economy has created for workers. What is most important to employers is that workers show they have stayed active in sharpening their skills.” Continue Reading

Interview with a Marketing Manager

I worked as a marketing manager and a sales manager in the computer sales industry. It was at a time when computer companies were trying to keep the budget down, so they would assume that a sales manager should also be able to handle marketing. My experience was that they are two completely different things and I was fortunate to have marketing training from my college days to help me adjust to doing the job of two people. Continue Reading

Will the 2011 holiday shopping season bankrupt retailers?

 There’s a new brand of holiday shopper.

This person spends less, shops online, and requires more convincing than ever. With fallout from the recession and growing reliance on the Internet, the 2011 holiday shopping season will be a key litmus test for retailers.  Will they dodge the bullet and report healthy profits in 2012? Continue Reading