First the good news, most employers (78%) say that they will hold steady with their staff for 2012, according to Abbey Lombardi in www.wantedanalytics.com (12/29/11). 18% will be expanding their staff and about 4% may reduce current needs due to business loss or redundncies in staff. This is MUCH better than we have seen in the past 4 years. Some of the key growth internationally is in the Asia Pacific, more specifically China. We are consistently seeing employers ask for “Mandarin speaking skills preferred” in candidates. Though the U.S. is seeing steady growth, it is not as aggressive as China is seeing.

Some of the more difficult job searches are for web development, user experience, mobile marketing, CRM research/analytics and social media marketing, according to Keith Cline (Inc. Magazine 12/19/11). These positions require specialized skills that are in high demand and consequently, pay some of the top salaries and pay rates. Recruiters are ALWAYS looking for these people and once they have people who have proven their worth in these areas, they keep them consistently working. This is the area where we foresee bidding wars occurring for talent.

Today’s process of finding marketing/creative talent has changed greatly from where we were just a few years ago. Traditional methods of newspaper, yellow page postings, magazine ads and job fairs do not have the same impact or attendance as they once did and therefore the results often miss the mark. Of course, this varies based on the skill set being sourced as well as the geographic resources available. Recruiting firms today rely on the digital platform, social media and word-of-mouth to get the candidates with the skills our clients demand.

Social media is a HUGE factor in finding today’s talent. Some of the more common sites are LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & YouTube. Each resource is unique in how the person’s information is viewed and perceived. LinkedIn is a great tool to find key employer experience, educational training, professional associations and built in recommendations of the person’s performance. Facebook is often used to verify a cultural fit with an employer. The notion that information on Facebook is private and it is okay to say or do whatever online is foolish. Anything posted on the web can be viewed by all. Some high security or government positions are including a review of personal Facebook sites as part of their personality/security assessments. There is state legislation in process now regarding individual rights and public need to know. Keep in mind, it isn’t just what you might say or pictures you post, it is also the company that you keep. Be smart about monitoring your Facebook wall and updates. There are options to potentially limit access to a broader audience that should be considered.

Recruiters are getting creative in sourcing talent. We find that sponsoring unique events that cater to a specific target audience can yield long-term benefits. Referral incentives are also seeing a surge again.

The absolute best way to find talent is by referrals from people you trust or from employees who are doing an outstanding job. It is who you know and who knows you!

Employers need to make sure to utilize internal referrals in securing new people. It not only can control your costs but it builds a team approach and makes them feel more invested in the company.

Today’s final takeaway is that digital is the platform to find talent and to be found. Constantly update your information so that it is relevant and current. Monitor your personal sites so that there are no surprises. It is okay to de-friend a person on Facebook if they are making inappropriate statements or propaganda that is contrary to your stance, even if it is “Aunt Sally”. It is a good thing to connect with others in your field on LinkedIn. It can improve your rating and also give you the appearance of being the person to know. It is not necessary to connect with a stranger that is outside of your focus or in a path that you do not want to follow. More connections are not better if the relationship is distant or non-existent. Report spammers IMMEDIATELY and protect your online image.

The digital pace is faster and much more detailed. Use it wisely and the payoff will be evident.

Quick response codes have been in use since the mid-90s, but new ways to utilize this link between offline material and online content are being applied everyday. With no length, size or space limitations, it’s easy and cost effective to engage customers at the time when they are most ready to receive the information. Effectively tapping this marketing and communication channel can provide a competitive advantage in securing and strengthening B2C and B2B relationships.

Going beyond the basics of placing a QR code on business cards to share contact information, companies are utilizing this tool to educate and persuade decision makers about their products and services. Before including this technology tool into your marketing mix its important to remember the marketing basics.

• Test the code repeatedly. A potential customer can become irritated and unresponsive to your message if the code doesn’t work.
• Size relevance. Determine the best size for the code based on the information coded and how the customer will access it. The minimal size is a 1.25” and includes a border that separates the code from any other content.
• Provide an alternative access. QR codes may be more familiar, but not all customers have the capability to access this information. To make your content accessible, add readable copy nearby explaining what the code does and an alternative way to access it.
• Mobile-optimized. The final destination needs to be optimized for the small screen and mobile broadband constraints.
• Share unique information. The QR code content should be unique and provide value to the customer. Make it more than just a link to the website home.
• Capture the information – companies need to determine what information they want to capture from the scan and then develop the measurement tool to track the results.

The applicable uses for QR codes are endless. Codes can convey anything that is printed or digitized and immediately connect customers with information they want to know or obtain. To get you thinking about ways to incorporate QR codes in your marketing mix, here are a few interesting applications currently being utilized in the marketplace.

• Tradeshows or events
  • Deliver dynamic service or product information all in the size of stamp and paperless.
  • Link to an after-event activity
  • Enable customers to register for contests, request a follow-up appointment, provide feedback via a survey, get an event schedule and directions
• Outdoor signage – large code shares business overview that can be scanned by prospects driving or walking by the location
• Seeking investors – for start-up companies looking for investors, link to a business or marketing plan
• Point of sale receipts - include upcoming promotions, service support, replacement parts, coupons, feedback form, assembly instructions, coupons
• Fundraising – easy access to information; can be included with grant applications to show reviewers how funds support programs, events, research
• Social media – link customers to business Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter accounts and their respective online communities and information blogs. Make this a value-added connection for the phone-scanning customer.
• Call to action – alternate special offers by linking codes to new landing pages and combine them with emails to opt-into your customer list
• Speaker conferences – QR code can link to the presentation, handouts, contact information, next speaking event.
• Product information and packaging – assembly and care instructions, required safety sheets, manufacturer information
• Music artists – free downloads to fans in attendance
• Transportation – code links to site that shows current position of bus, train, airplane using built-in GPS and anticipated arrival time. Another use, digitizing boarding passes .
• Medical alerts – code on driver’s license or medallion with important medical information
• Pet identification – creating code on a collar tag with owner contact and pet information
• Real estate listing – code on sale sign links to home video and realtor information
• Tombstones – code links mourners to videos and other information celebrating the person’s life
• Shelf signs – display ingredients and nutritional information
• Ball fields and arenas – display sponsorship information and special promotions

As familiarity with QR codes increases, it is important to determine how this tool can be effectively utilized to connect with your customers in a unique and relevant way. For B2B connections, making the scan worthwhile to the customer is key to adding value to your business relationship.

How are you using QR codes?

I’ve just returned from a managers meeting at our corporate HQ. While there, we covered lots of the topics expected - sales, management, hiring, best practices, how to grow and mentor a team etc.  But one of the most surprising topics covered was - vacations.

I am one of those managers who is guilty of putting off  vacation time until the end of the year and then not being able to use it.  l do like folks that put in tons of hours and are fully engaged in their roles at work.  But also I have also seen the effects of burn-out. I have learned over time - that taking time off is, in fact, an important element in keeping employees performing at their best.  So I thought I would share the research finding I received from our communications team.

Time Off

If you’ve been handing out an unspoken pat on the back to employees that work more than 40 hours each week and rarely take vacation, you’re likely not alone. According to the American Workplace Insights survey conducted by Harris Interactive:

• 57% of employees do not expect their employer to encourage vacation use.
• 58% believe their employers likely won’t offer flexible work hours this year.

It’s time to rethink your strategy. All work and no play may or may not lead to dull employees, but it will directly and negatively impact your bottom line. The following are a list of eight reasons to encourage your employees’ regular use of paid vacation:

1. Put a cap on accrued vacation payables. When an employee’s unused vacation time is allowed to accrue for an extended period of time, employers are left holding the bag if that employee leaves the company or suddenly decides to take many weeks at one time. A “use-it-or-lose-it” policy encourages employees to use their earned vacation time within the calendar year, and protects your balance sheet from an unlimited or unexpected payout.
2. Rested workers result in reduced premiums. The hallmarks of workaholism include fatigue, poor health, and stress, all of which lead to an increase in worker’s compensation and health insurance costs. Keep your employees healthier and safer while minimizing the premiums you pay, by enforcing necessary breaks in engagement and regular time off.
3. Increase output with higher productivity and accuracy levels. Studies have shown that productive, successful employees are those who take vacation and occasional time off to relax, rejuvenate and refresh. Upon return from vacation, their renewed sense of drive and determination can provide both short-term and long-term boosts in productivity. Additionally, the necessary rest and replenishment will help them avoid costly mistakes, which overworked employees are more apt to make.
4. Employees that get away are more likely to stick around. When you consider the total cost of recruiting, hiring and training new employees, turnover expenses can be devastating. Help improve employee morale when you facilitate, and even encourage, employee retention through the use of vacation time and an environment that supports employee-centered work hours.
5. A change of scenery promotes ingenuity. Hum-drum routine rarely leads to inspired thinking. When on vacation, we often find ourselves in a new environment, and going through different routines. By being forced to behave and think differently for a period of time, we gain fresh perspective, creative inspiration, and new ideas. It is impossible to put a dollar value on the innovation and ingenuity that will result for your company when you encourage your employees to take vacation as a sabbatical.
6. Happy employees minimize risk and adversity. The ever-elusive office culture – you tout it to recruits, but do you really understand its value? Overworked employees are cranky employees, and are often the cause of infighting as well as office politics. They are more likely to berate their boss, resent coworkers that don’t work as hard as they do, and even resent the job itself. Your entire office, and its work product, suffers the effects of an overworked employee. You can prevent unnecessary crankiness on your team by simply making it clear that working long hours and foregoing vacation are not the way to get ahead.
7. Reduce unplanned outages. Overworked employees may take fewer vacation days off, but the tradeoff is that they likely will require more sick days. Additionally, if your employees are nervous about how you will react to their vacation request, they will be more likely to procrastinate – leaving little time for a back-up plan – or even play hooky. Conversely, employees who feel open to use their vacation time at their discretion will more proactively plan for their outages and have fewer sick days. Foster an environment that supports your employees’ efforts to balance work and their personal lives through paid time off, and the result will be loyal employees that won’t leave you hanging.
8. Detect and deter fraud by interrupting individual controls. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) 2010 Report to the Nations, a typical organization will lose 5% of its annual revenue to occupational fraud and abuse. Fraudulent behavior often requires complete control over an activity by one or more persons to cover up the paper trail, and is difficult to maintain while out of the office for a week or more. In fact, refusal to take vacation was one of the key red flag behaviors identified by the ACFE in their study. While the reality of these statistics is unpleasant, companies must acknowledge the need for a required vacation policy to help detect, and ideally deter, any existing or potential fraudulent behavior.

We have the pleasure of welcoming our newest addition to the Paladin Team and the new voice of Paladin - Cindy-Lee Pijoos. Cindy is taking over my role as Recruitment Coordinator. She will be the point person for our working Associates and initial inquiries from Candidates and Clients.

Cindy’s story about finding Paladin is a classic case study for how social networking can help you find a job. Recruiters, mentors, bloggers, and even Forbes continuously buzz about personal branding and networking through online communities to find a job. After reviewing Paladin’s postings online, she contacted me through a direct message on Twitter. Her social media savvy gained her an interview, and her experience and professionalism won her the role.

Cindy graduated with an integrated marketing communications degree in PR. She comes to us originally from Cape Town, South Africa and has lived in various cities before settling in Chicago. She thoroughly enjoys volunteering, cooking, and networking - so be sure to introduce yourself at the next event.

As we welcome Cindy as the new face and voice of Paladin, I am personally taking the next step in my career. I have recently accepted a position in social media, which will be a new challenge I am very excited to take on. My passion for interactive, online marketing has spooled through my experience at Paladin. I am happy to have had a chance to hone my social media experience in my Paladin role and look forward to staying a part of the extended Paladin family!