iCIMS Hire Expectations™

With reports of optimism and a Q3 profit gain, the U.S. Commerce Department is letting policy makers know that it’s time to start planning for the recovery.  While the government is busy planning its post-recession procedures, companies across the nation are gearing up for new types of necessary HR practices.  And if there’s one sector that’s all too familiar with hiring surges and alternative hiring pools, it’s the retail industry.  With the holiday season quickly approaching, the retail industry is preparing for yet another year of seasonal hiring.  From an increase in hourly hiring to utilizing alternate forms of recruiting, the retail industry serves as a microcosm for what the rest of the nation can expect for hiring practices in 2010 and beyond.

But with unemployment still on the rise (but increasing at it’s lowest pace yet!) someone forgot to tell the job (and housing) market that the recession is over.  However, it’s never too early to begin planning for the recovery. Every year, the retail industry slows down for nine months, a full two-thirds of the year.  In a way, retail experiences a mini-recession every year (with a Presidents Day Sale here and a Back-to-School, One-Day Sale there).  Yet as the last days of summer come to a close, managers and recruiters are readying themselves and their staffs.  They know that in order to have an efficient and prepared staff for the holiday months, they have to begin planning before the rush. Creating a talent pipeline and hiring the most qualified candidates well in advance, while the applicant pool is still full of top talent, is essential. The extra staff must be trained and familiarized with the ways that stores are run so they can be effective sales people when Black Friday rolls around and the holiday buying-season officially begins. 

Now you’re probably wondering, “How can I possibly ready myself for a hiring rush, when I have all this shopping to do?”  Fortunately, iCIMS is presenting a webinar on just such a topic (blatant self promotion, I know).  The webinar, Post Recession & Seasonal HR Practices will consist of a panel discussion offering best practices from retail industry leaders.  The webinar takes places next Wednesday, November 18^th, 2009 at 1:00 pm EST.  To register for the webinar, you can click here. 

Is your organization doing anything to prepare for the economic recovery? What does your 2010 outlook look like?