Talent Strategies For Post-Recession: Prepare to Connect

In September, The Conference Board predicted that salary increases for 2010 would only be 3% (lowest in 25 years). In Canada, increases are projected to be only 2.8%. Unemployment hit an all-time high in October. But manufacturers and retailers are predicting turnarounds in 2010, and that means jobs won’t be far behind. What does that mean for talent? It means it’s time to strategize and time to connect. It’s not just social networking, it’s a conversation. Your candidates want to talk.
I did a survey recently of job seekers to see how their habits have changed over the past year. Now the recession certainly has been going longer than that, but 12 months of change will tell you a great deal about the habits of job seekers. I had planned to cull a list of top trends for companies to pay attention to in preparing their talent strategies for 2010, but there’s truly only one thing to keep in mind about your job seekers: They’re online. And they’re looking for you. Not your company, but you.
When it comes to talent and recruiting, being reactive is the worst possible strategy. After all, when the economy does turn, all of the great talent in the market will diminish quickly, and unprepared companies will be left scrambling. In order to be proactive, it is important to see what’s changed since the economy turned. And for 2010, it’s all about the connections. Continue reading …

Article by Career Coach and HR Executive, Susan D. Strayer, and courtesy of KaleidoBlog, career advice for a new generation. Follow Susan on Twitter @DailyCareerTips

Originally posted by Candice A