This Week In Search Marketing Staffing – 10/28/08

When trying to fill an open position it can be tempting to rush to fill the job with the first candidate that seems on par with what you are looking for.  This can be dangerous though, because if you hire someone who doesn’t workout, it will turn into a very costly mistake in terms of time, money, and opportunity.  In an article on Advertising Age, Bart Cleveland discusses why, Hiring the Right People Is a No-Brainer.   Bart suggests always taking your time when making a hiring decision.  The more time you spend getting to know a candidate the more you will be able to assess how well they will be able to fit within your team.  By being patient and diligent you can avoid costly mistakes that might hurt the future success of your company.

If you have just been laid off from your job, CNET has some advice for you in their article, 14 Things to Do If You Are Laid off From a Tech Job.  The list provides a well rounded approach to moving on with your career and life and making the most out of an unfortunate experience.  While not working in a permanent position the best things you can focus on are refining your professional skill set and devoting time to personal passions you didn’t have time for with your job.  Some of CNET's suggestions are:

Skills

• Get involved in an open-source project
• Get project work
• Buy a new rig (in order to do more work)

Personal

• Find a boyfriend/girlfriend
• Campaigning in a swing state
• Volunteering

While in full-time job it can be hard to find time for outside activities.  This is why it is very important to take advantage of the extra time so you aren’t lamenting about your decisions when you find your next opportunity.

Looking to recruit out of Generation Y? BusinessWeek Believes you will need parental approval.  When it comes to big decisions like a first job, the majority of Generation Y is going to look to their parents for input and feedback about their options.  Companies can avoid losing a Generation Y prospect to the competition by ensuring they have a parent approved brand.  Many companies have begun marketing campaigns aimed at parents who might have children entering the work force.  Whether it is offering information for parents during interviews, inviting parents into the office, or advertising the benefits the parents of an employee will receive, many companies are making an active effort to receive parental approval.

Job fairs can be a great way to network and find your next job.  Unfortunately they can be overwhelming if you aren’t properly prepared.  ReportonBusiness has a good overview of what can be expected from job fairs in their article, Weekend Workout: How to Navigate the Job Fair Maze.  By properly preparing and going in with the right expectations, a job fair can be the spark you need to find your next job opportunity.

That's it for this week, check back next week for another update.