Oh Where, Oh Where Do New Employees Come From?

Can you identify your primary source for filling open positions? Really? Honestly? Or are you guessing or going by your gut feeling?

CareerXRoads recently released thier 5th Annual Sources of Hire Survey. While the survey cites some interesting data and trends about sourcing, perhaps one of the most telling statistics is the small number of companies able to provide hard data. (The data included in the survey does represent an aggregate of more than 1,000,000 employees and 188,000 filled positions.)

The survey asks some interesting questions regarding sourcing of employees that HR professionals should consider. They include:

• "What is your profile and what are the characteristics of the firms you would most likely compare yourself to?
• Is your data solid enough to act on?
• What sources of hire are most relevant for your firm's critical openings?
• What sources are most reliable?
• For what level, job, location, etc., can you compare yields? What would you do to improve upon them?
• How do you allocate your sourcing dollars in 2006 if you don't have solid data for 2005... until the spring?
• Will additional investments in one approach over another enjoy a better yield?"

If your CEO isn't asking these questions and challenging your tracking mechanisms, you should be asking them of yourself. HR needs to continue to establish itself as a viable business operation and having ready access to the data that answers the above questions can be a critical element.

To read the CareerXroads survey report and analysis click here: CareerXroads 5th Annual Sources of Hire Survey


Posted by Denise Knutson, Senior Consultant, The H.S. Group