SRA Insights

One of the strongest value propositions a leader can give to an employee is the ability for that individual to perpetually grow in all dimensions. Obvious dimensions include professionally as well as personally, but do not overlook the importance of financial, mental, and spiritual growth as well. In nature, plants either grow or decompose; they do not stay the same. [...]

Most managers thrive when it comes to evaluating an employee’s success related to the hard skills of a role. Achieving measurable quotas, meeting quantifiable objectives, or directly contributing to profit or cost savings are black-and-white and leave little room for subjectivity or interpretation. The challenge most face is in evaluating the soft skills of every role; regardless of the behavioral [...]

If you are seeking a new career opportunity, chances are you will be asked to engage in a telephone interview – a screening tool favored by most employers.  Telephone interviews allow hiring managers to explore a candidate’s work history and abilities as well as evaluate the candidate’s enthusiasm and interest level before committing to a face-to-face meeting, thus saving companies [...]

Top executives agree that the “good old days” of rewarding employees for 35 years of loyal service are a thing of the past. Years ago, individuals who had experience at several companies were considered “job-hoppers”.  Potential employers wondered what was wrong with them and why they couldn’t hold a job.  Today, changing jobs has become a necessity if individuals expect [...]

Many years ago, the National Safety Council discovered that most accidents do not occur out of ignorance – but rather from false assumptions. For example: “I can read this book and keep my eyes on the road at the same time.” “I can skip the safety goggles just this once.” “That electric circuit can’t be live.” Clearly, wrong assumptions can [...]

Recruiting often seems to be a mysterious process. Candidates wonder how they can best “use” a recruiter … how they can get a recruiter’s attention … why recruiters aren’t calling them back … and so forth. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions of Sanford Rose Associates search consultants – and how we answer them. How can I [...]

What to expect in 2010 The good thing about 2009 is it has ended. It was an extremely difficult year. The “global economic crisis” or the “Great Recession,” as it has been called in the United States, is finally over. Most economists agree that the global economic recovery that began at the end of 2009 will continue throughout 2010. As [...]

How will you attract and retain the best executive talent? Ask a CEO about the number one thing that keeps him up at night, and you might be surprised by the answer. For many senior executives, the biggest cause for concern is talent management, not the competition. In an informal survey of more than 450 executives conducted last fall by [...]

Personality Testing in the Employment Process Like singles using dating services, many companies try to find their “perfect match” through the use of personality tests and other psychometric testing.  It has been estimated that 30% of all companies have incorporated some sort of personality testing into their hiring process.   The potential “cultural fit” of a candidate within an organization is [...]

Employees Begin to Explore Their Options More employees are beginning to take a course of action that was unthinkable a few months ago. They are quitting their jobs. As reported by many media outlets, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the number of workers who voluntarily left (quit) their jobs outnumbered those who were laid off in February, March, [...]

Doesn’t Anyone Just Relocate Anymore? In the not too distant past, the climb up the corporate ladder for many executives included a couple of strategic relocations. Most companies assumed that for the right position, executives would move their families wherever the job required. That assumption is no longer accurate. Over half (56%) of the respondents in the Atlas 2010 Corporate [...]

Are fears of a coming “labor shortage” and “knowledge drain” well founded? Despite the recent economic downturn, many experts believe that within 10 years there will be a labor shortage in the United States, the United Kingdom, and much of Western Europe resulting from the retirement of many workers from the Baby Boomer generation (those born 1946 – 1964) and [...]

Pre-employment background checks are under increased scrutiny. Conducting a background check on prospective candidates is considered part of the normal due diligence in the hiring process by many employers.  Reviewing a candidate’s criminal record and credit provides the hiring manager with more information on that candidate and may identify potential “red flags”.  The practice has, however, come under increased scrutiny [...]