Monthly Archives: December 2014

The Search for the Magical Solution

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Have you been in that place?  You know the place. That place where you feel the only option you have is to find some ‘magical’ solution to whatever problem or issue you’re facing.

That’s the problem, there is no magical solution.

But we search, and search, and search.  This seems to happen a lot in HR.  We tend to need more magical solutions than most other parts of the organization.

The search only stops when the problem takes care of itself.  And it always does.  Mostly, you just take too long to come up with a magical solution, so time does it for you.  This is usually the worst option, but since you didn’t move on any solution, the only solution presented itself.

We spend so much time and resources searching for magical solutions.

That’s really your sign.  The moment you believe it’s going to take some sort of extraordinary solution to solve your issue is when you should stop looking.  That is the exact time when you start providing ‘lessor’ options.  Well, we aren’t going to land Jack, our number one candidate and the only person in the world that can do this job.  Here are two others that can do about 75% of what we need.  When would you like to talk to them?

Lessor doesn’t mean bad.  It only means that it’s lessor than magical!  Look, we can’t come up with a magical solution, here’s what we have.  The faster you can move forward, away from magical, the sooner you’ll actually solve your problem for real.

I’m pretty damn good at Recruiting and HR stuff, but I’m not magical.

What I can do is move things forward in the best direction we have available to us.  You might not want to hear that, because magical stories are so great to listen to, but this is what we have.  Stop searching for magical solutions and start delivering real solutions.

 

T3 – People Analytics Corp (PAC)

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T3 – Talent Tech Tuesday – is a weekly series here at The Project to educate and inform everyone who stops by on a daily/weekly basis on some great recruiting and sourcing technologies that are on the market.  None of the companies who I highlight are paying me for this promotion.  There are so many really cool things going on in the space and I wanted to educate myself and share what I find.  If you want to be T3 – send me a note.

Today I’m looking at People Analytics Corporation (PAC) which sounds like it would be a talent or HR data analytics play, but in reality they are an Selection Assessment Technology play. The really cool thing about PAC is they didn’t start out as an assessment play, they grew out of the world’s largest career test, Sokanu.  Sokanu is basically a better, bigger version of one of those high school career assessments you took to find out what you would be good at as a career.  From millions of these assessments being taken, Sokanu discovered they had a giant data set that could be transformed into a very strong selection assessment, and PAC was born.

PAC does what great selection assessment companies should do which is help organizations understand what traits and characteristics define their top talent. Then, use this data to help you go out and hire more of that top talent.  The catch!?  They do this part for free!   They’ll come in and assess your entire organization, by department, function, etc., to build selection assessments based on your best talent.  Let’s be clear, to have great data, you can do this with a department of 10.  The reality is, you need anywhere from 50-100 do get statistically relevant data in a role. So, for the most part PAC is an enterprise play.

PAC’s UI is ridiculous easy to use to develop roles, turn those roles into jobs, and have your company specific assessments linked right to your job postings.  As candidates apply and assess, you use the dashboard to see who are the potential best fits for the jobs you are hiring for.  PAC also has a ‘faking’ compenent score within their assessment technology which shows you which candidates are trying to fake their results and look better.  Within the assessment you also get data returned that shows you ‘red flags’ of where candidates are probably going to come up short.

5 Things I really liked about PAC:

1. You are actually for Free going to come in assessment my organization and give me all that data? For Free!?  Yep.  This all by itself should get you to at least want to demo their product!

2. This isn’t just a personality assessment.  Most assessments are based on one component, usually personality.  PAC is based on five including personality, skills, organizational culture fit, needs and context.  It’s the most comprehensive selection assessment I’ve seen that is tailored to your organization, for the price.

3. The system was super easy for a talent or HR pro to use to develop new roles and pick the competencies and important factors needed by just clicking through, and you can add multiple raters within the organization by just selecting from a drop down menu.

4. Really fast and really accurate (the science behind this is awesome).  The average assessment takes about 12 minutes, and provides some really accurate data that has been proven reliable and valid based on millions completed. You can also compare results of a candidate to an existing employee already in position.

5. There is an employee development component that also comes out of this data for hiring managers to continue to develop the employee after hire, but one that can also be used with your internal staff already employed.

PAC is a new, young company that almost no one really knows about, but their product is one of the best I’ve seen when it comes to employee selection. They won’t be unknown for long! The average cost per assessment is $12-15 each, but it’s all based on volume, you guys know the game.  That is cheap, when you think about all you get on the front side with the analysis you’ll get of your own organization before you even pay for one assessment.  Plus, the assessments you’ll be giving aren’t just some generic assessment, but ones based on your own organization, own roles.

Check them out. I was really blown away by the demo.

5 Things That Scream You’re Not Getting Paid Enough

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I was reading an article recently, it was one of those “Best Places To Work” type of articles.  Since I run a company, I’m always looking out for good ideas on how to take care of your employees without spending a dime – unfortunately – “Best Places” companies that make these lists usually don’t give you these type 0f ideas!   What you get from “Best Places” articles are all the over the top crap – gourmet cat food for your in cube pet-mate, free liposuction for your spouse and discounted tattoo eyeliner coupons.  I would love for my company to be on the top of every single “Best Places” to work article – but we probably won’t.  I care too much about my employees to make that happen.

What?!?

Yes, you read that right – My greatest weakness is I care too much!

It costs an organization a ton of money to make a “Best Places” list – not in actually applying to make the list (oh yeah, they are chosen randomly – you have to apply – the Top 100 Greatest Places to Work isn’t really the Top 100 Greatest Places to Work – it was the Top of the companies that applied for the award Greatest Places to Work), but in doing all the silly crap they do, so they sound like a great place to work.  Many of the best places to work, will never be on a list, because they are spending their time, money and effort – on their employees!

Here are some things that “Best Places to Work” companies and You Not Getting Paid Enough have in common”

1. If you’re company has unlimited gourmet free breakfast, lunch and dinner provided – you’re not getting paid enough.  Cut that crap out and pay me $10K more per year – I’ll bring in my own Greek Yogurt and granola.

2. If your company pays to have your laundry done and your house clean – you’re not getting paid enough.

3. If your company is taking you on luxury vacations and dinners that cost more than your monthly home mortgage – you’re not getting paid enough.

4. If your company spend more on marketing themselves as a great place to work, than on your employee development – you’re not getting paid enough.

5. If your CEO flies to work on a daily or weekly basis – you’re not getting paid enough.

So, how do I show my employees that I care and that we have a great place to work?  I don’t waste money on things that ultimately become a negative when I need to take them away because we aren’t making the money for our shareholders.  All great places to work, eventually become average or crappy places to work – because sustaining luxury programs that you put in place when your doing well – become negatives to engagement when you tighten your boot straps.

Pay your people fairly. Meet their needs as adults. Treat them professionally and with respect.  That’s a great place to work.