“Where do I find qualified employees in such a tight labor market?” This question echoes throughout the business community, even as Louisiana’s economy moves forward in 2007. With hurricane rebuild projects in full swing and business expansions on the rise, the demand for labor continues to grow. Here are a few tips that can keep you on track in identifying the best talent:

Roll out the red carpet for your applicants - Make sure an applicant’s first impression of your company is a good one. Don’t forget simple things like offering a cup of coffee when he or she walks through the front door.  Also, all hiring personnel must be willing to accommodate their applicants’ interviewing schedules. Many candidates are currently working, so it is important to be available to them before and after work hours. It could mean the difference between being successful or losing the candidate all together.

Expedite your hiring process - Make sure that your hiring process is both thorough and able to be implemented quickly. Companies that don’t take action are often left empty-handed when the candidate accepts another position. Do not waste valuable time, money and resources in attracting and securing talent.

Keep salaries realistic yet competitive – There is constant pressure to increase salaries, now more than ever. Hiring personnel must keep current on competitive salaries based on today’s labor market, while being cautious not to overcompensate. Companies that refuse to acknowledge current market conditions will lose out on top talent.

Focus on your company’s strengths - Tell prospective employees why they should want to work for you. Show them your excellent work environment or reputation for success. Emphasize your great location or equitable employee stock option plan. Find out what is important to your applicant, and then reinforce what your company has to offer.

^top

Before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast/New Orleans region in late 2005, Baton Rouge was the second largest city in Louisiana. Now it is the largest in the state and is the regional center of business, healthcare and entertainment. Approximately 3.5 million people now live within 100 miles of Baton Rouge and over 1 million reside within 50 miles. With such a rapid change in population and business development, the city of Baton Rouge has overcome adversity and risen above expected goals.

See examples in the statistics below:

2006 Unemployment Rates:
Louisiana --> 4.3%
How do our neighbors stack up?
Arkansas --> 5.1%
Mississippi --> 7.5%

Baton Rouge Average One-Way Commute Time
--> 21 minutes (Approximately 14% shorter than the national average of 24.7 minutes)
National Average One-Way Commute Time
--> 30 minutes

Two-Bedroom Apartment Average Rent
--> $623 (Nearly $150, or 21%, lower than the national average of $771)

New Single-Family Home Average Sale Price
--> $266,423 (Over $23,000, or 9%, lower than the national average price of $289, 484)
Existing Single-Family Home Median Sale Price
--> $164,600 (Over $51,000, or 31%, below the national median price of $215,900.)

^top

Typographical errors are all too common, even on the most professional resumes. Typos can suggest a lack of credibility or inherent laziness. Take the extra time to proofread your resume; it will help you sell yourself as a detailed, qualified individual.   We’ve listed 25 commonly misspelled words below, so you can avoid misspelling them on your resume:

^top

In just about every field of business, companies have learned that proper job training leads to improved recruiting, higher retention and increased output. Training consists of more than just building the skills and knowledge of each individual of your team for their own personal benefit -- it affects the bottom line.

Companies that have invested in training frequently report the following benefits:  

1. Training helps maintain and improve quality and productivity.
2. Training means treating your staff like professionals. People who believe they are valued enough for you to invest in developing their skills are more likely to invest themselves in the company.
3. Training delivers a positive return on investment. Focused training can pay for itself many times over by raising morale, boosting efficiency and maintaining high standards.
4. Training helps keep pace with a changing business. You need to stay on top of new developments in order to stay competitive.
5. Training emphasizes priorities. The needs of the business can be directed toward specific employee training.

^top