Recruiters Network

March 25, 2004  

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 9

   
SPONSOR

 

Advertising Info

RECRUITING NEWS

To read the newsletter online - visit www.recruitingnews.com.

Recruiting News is a free electronic newsletter published by Recruiters Network. Recruiters Network is the Association for Internet Recruiting. It is a free organization for HR Professionals and Recruiters.

In addition to our newsletter, we offer a free resource center to enhance recruiting success. Visit us at www.recruitersnetwork.com. 

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

IN THIS ISSUE
Newsletter Sponsors
A Note from the Editor
Breaking News
Today's Recruiting News Headlines
Featured Recruiting Jobs
Weekly Article: Five Common Phone-Screen Interview Mistakes
 Special Trials and Discounts
Recruiting Polls and Trends
 Layoffs and Downsizing Report
Recruiting Essential Bookmarks
Upcoming Conferences
Site Of The Week: Executive Job Market Intelligence - Download Free
Final Note - On The Lighter Side

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Newsletter Sponsors

1. RecruitingJobs.com - Save 25% on first posting.

Looking to hire recruiting professionals?  Post a 60 day job posting ad on RecruitingJobs.com for $225. (Save $25% off first posting...mention discount when registering) Register to post >>

2. GoBackgrounds.com - 20% Off

No contracts. No activation fees. No monthly fees. No hidden fees. Just fast, affordable and effective background checks on-line reviewed by licensed investigators.

Enter your company information and Promotion Code: local04 to lock in 20% off discount pricing. Register for an account >>

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

A Note From The Editor

The Conference Board's Help-Wanted Index Edges Up One Point

The Conference Board's Help-Wanted Advertising Index -- a key barometer of America's job market -- increased one point in February. The Index now stands at 40, up from 39 the previous month. The Index was 41 one year ago.

In the last three months, help-wanted advertising increased in eight of the nine U.S. regions. The largest increases occurred in the Mountain (13.8%), New England (12.8%) and East South Central (9.6%) regions.

Complete Story >>

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Breaking News

Jobless Claims Stand At Lowest Level Since January 2001

The number of first-time unemployment claims filed by U.S. workers dropped by 6,000 to 336,000 from the revised 342,000 claims the prior week, it lowest level since January 2001, according to statistics released by the Department of Labor. The four-week moving average, considered a more reliable guide of unemployment conditions because it irons out weekly fluctuations, fell by 2,000 to 344,000. The number of workers drawing unemployment benefits for more than a week rose by 47,000 to 3,064,000 in the week ended March 6, the latest period for which those statistics are available.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Today's Recruiting News Headlines
View HR/employment news headlines or our Recruiting Newswire.

Please send us with your press releases, news items, personnel changes, etc. Click here for submission instructions.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Featured Recruiting Jobs

This section highlights several recruiting related positions recently posted on Recruiting Jobs. To view all jobs or to register for a career agent click here.

Looking to hire recruiting professionals?  Post a 60 day job posting ad on RecruitingJobs.com for $225 and be featured in Recruiting News. Register to post >>

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Weekly Article
 Five Common Phone-Screen Interview Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
WetFeet.com

Some recruiters and hiring managers underestimate the importance of the phone screen in making good hires, when in fact it can be a key component of the recruiting process.

Of course, the phone screen is an opportunity to weed out candidates who are looking for more salary than a position pays, or non-local candidates who are unwilling to relocate.

But good recruiters and hiring managers also know that the phone screen is an opportunity to learn more about a candidate than you can from his or her resume. You can determine, for example, whether the candidate is worth bringing in for a face-to-face interview. And if you do, you won't be starting from zero.

To get the most out of a phone screen, though, you'll need to avoid these common mistakes:

  • Not understanding the job you're talking to the candidate about
  • Writing off seemingly unenthusiastic candidates too quickly
  • Being overly critical of candidates who speak English as a second language
  • Missing scheduled phone interviews
  • Not being aware of open positions at your company other than the one for which you're recruiting
Understand the Job You're Trying to Fill

The phone screen is your chance to get a better idea of how well a candidate has the specific skill set required for the opening you're trying to fill. If you don't understand the job and don't know what skills it requires, you can't conduct an effective phone screen.

If you are a hiring manager, take the time to define precisely what skills the job requires before posting the job opening.

If you're a recruiter, make sure you get thorough job descriptions of the positions for which you're recruiting. If you still don't have a strong grasp of a job and the skills it requires, take some time to speak with the hiring manager to get answers to your questions about the job and what skills the ideal candidate would possess.

Don't Write Off Seemingly Unenthusiastic Candidates
Candidates who are actively looking for a job can be dealing with a barrage of phone calls. For those who are working full time-as most good candidates are-coping with all those phone calls can be exhausting.

The key in such a situation is to take the next step. If you're having a hard time filling a position and a candidate's resume makes it clear that he or she has the skills needed to do the job for which you're recruiting, invite him or her in for a face-to-face interview.

In today's difficult hiring market, give candidates a chance to research your company and work up enthusiasm—and give yourself a chance at getting the best candidates available.

Be Patient With People Who Speak English as a Second Language
Make sure you don't unnecessarily write off candidates who don't speak English well.

In some cases, the job you're trying to fill will not require excellent communication skills. Many technical positions, for instance, do not require people who are fluent speakers of English.

In other cases, the phone screen may not provide you with a fair assessment of a candidate's communication skills. Eye contact and gestures can do a lot of the work in communicating, and you'd be foolish to eliminate, on the basis of a phone call, candidates who may later impress you in person.

Don't Miss Scheduled Phone Calls
Good candidates are usually busy people who have gone out of their way to block out time to speak to you. It's quite likely they'll lose interest in working for your company if you neglect to call them as scheduled.

To avoid this problem, treat phone screens as important as in-person interviews.

Be Aware of All the Areas in Which Your Company is Hiring
Often, during a phone screen, it will become apparent that a candidate does not have the right skill set for the position you're discussing. While he or she might not fit into that position, though, there could be another place in the company where the same candidate would fit in well.

Before recruiting for an open position, take the time to learn about other positions your company is hiring for. That way, if you speak to a high performer who is not quite suitable for your open position, but would fit in at another open position, you won't miss an opportunity to bring a quality hire on board.

About the Author

WetFeet has been helping leading companies attract and retain top talent since 1994. Learn why companies like Federated Department Stores, Merrill Lynch and P&G turn to WetFeet for their Recruiting Technology, Candidate Sourcing and Consulting & Research needs. Visit us at www.employers.wetfeet.com or call 1-888-220-1087 to speak to a WetFeet product specialist.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Special Trials And Discounts

Below is a partial list of trials and discounts that companies have extended to our readers. Click here for full list. If your company is interested in offering a promotion/discount, please contact us.

1. Lou Adler's Zero-Based Hiring Workshops

Zero-Based Hiring Workshops are coming to a town near you!
In this fascinating workshop, you’ll learn to forever transform the way you hire great people. If you’re not hiring top people for every position in today’s hiring market you’re doing something wrong. With the economic recovery just around the corner you still have time to shed old habits and gear-up exciting times ahead. Take a sneak preview of his new Zero-Based Hiring hiring workshop >>.

2. Human Resources Executive - Free trade publication.

Written primarily for vice presidents and directors of human resources, the magazine provides these key decision-makers with news, profiles of HR visionaries and success stories of human resource innovators. Stories cover all areas of human resource management, including personnel, benefits, training and development, HR information systems, relocation, retirement planning, workplace security, and healthcare. Get your free subscription >>

3. helpUhire.com - First Prescreen Free
HELPUHIRE Solutions has a tool that lets you prescreens the applicants to your open position, so that you quickly know which ones are worth looking at and which applicants are just wasting your time.  Those that don’t meet your requirements are flagged, and the remaining ones are ranked and the skills/experiences summarized.  All this for less than the cost of a posting on Hotjobs or Monster!  For a limited time, we are offering to do your first prescreen for free.  For more details, see www.helpUhire.com.

4. RecruitingJobs.com - Save 25% on first posting.

Looking to hire recruiting professionals?  Post a 60 day job posting ad on RecruitingJobs.com for $225. (Save $25% off first posting...mention discount when registering) Register to post >>

5. Recommended Leading Niche Boards - Get Focused, Go Niche.

NicheBoards.com - Gateway to 3 Million Quality Targeted Candidates

Call Center : CallCenterJobs.com
Finance / Accounting : jobsinthemoney.com
Health / Science : Jobscience.com
Hispanic / Bilingual : LatPro.com
Human Resources : Jobs4HR.com
IT Professionals : Computerwork.com
Logistics / Transportation : JobsInLogistics.com
Marketing / Sales : MarketingJobs.com
Military Transitioning : DestinyGroup.com
Retail Management / Hourly : AllRetailJobs.com
Telecom / Wireless: TelecomCareers.net

6. GoBackgrounds.com

No contracts. No activation fees. No monthly fees. No hidden fees. Just fast, affordable and effective background checks on-line reviewed by licensed investigators.

Enter your company information and Promotion Code: local04 to lock in your 2004 discount pricing. Register for an account >>

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Recruiting Polls and Trends

80 percent of corporations have an internal mobility policy in place.

Trend Watch is sponsored and provided by iLogos, a division of Recruitsoft. Click here for a complete archive.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Layoffs and Downsizing Report

Recruiters Network has added a layoff and downsizing report section to its newsletter. This section can be a great leads source for candidates. More information on how to use this section here.

~ No major job layoffs to report.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Recruiting Essential Bookmarks

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Upcoming Seminars & Conferences

1) Zero Based Hiring - Lou Adler
Performance-based, Interviewing, Assessment and Recruiting Techniques

2) Progress Management System
Milwaukee, WI April 8th-9th

We are delivering a workshop  on our "." This workshop will teach the principles of "Progress Management." The concept is based upon nontraditional training techniques. The methodology teaches how to match learning requirements with employee proficiency gaps as well as how they can learn on their own. The workshop is 2 days and costs $595. More info >>

Click here for schedules for upcoming conferences and seminars.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Site Of The Week

Executive Job Market Intelligence - Download Free

Executive Job Market Intelligence 2004 brings you the latest industry information on executive marketplace trends and compensation. This comprehensive report, based on ExecuNet's 12th annual survey of executives and recruiters, details the attitudes, perceptions and practices of executives and the search community. Download it now.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Final Note - On The Lighter Side

Just a reminder April Fools is right around the corner.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

All rights reserved. "Recruiting on the Web" is a free electronic newsletter for the HR and Staffing Industry with a circulation of over 36,000. To be featured or sponsor the newsletter please visit our media kit. If you have a Quick Tip you would like to share email us. If you have a press release or news item, click here for submission instructions. 

If you have a co-worker or friend who might be interested in our newsletter, have them register at www.recruitersnetwork.com. If you email address is changing or has changed, please unsubscribe and reregister at www.recruitersnetwork.com.

 Copyright © All Rights Reserved
RecruitersNetwork.com