Three Experts' Tips for Hiring, Retaining IT Staffs - ' Manpower'
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's Rick Davidson on workforce optimization">
Rick Davidson
SVP, Global CIO
Manpower employment-services company
Rick Davidson is responsible for worldwide IT strategy and operations at Manpower. He joined the company in January 2003. Before signing on with Manpower, he worked at the Feld Group—an IT consulting company that placed temporary CIOs—and, prior to that, he was the senior vice president and CIO at CNH Global and the vice president of global information services at Haworth Inc.
TIPS ON ATTRACTING AND RETAINING IT TALENT
Manpower has developed and refined strategies for companies to attract, engage and retain quality employees, including IT professionals. The world's most populous country is faced with a talent paradox. China, despite its 1.3 billion population, is short on talent. Manpower developed its proprietary Workforce Optimization Model that is used to assist clients in recruiting and retaining permanent employees. The five strategies of this model are not only useful to employers in China, but globally, and apply across all industries and sectors.
The five strategies of Manpower's Workforce Optimization Model to improve employee attraction, engagement and retention are:
1. Create a learning organization.
2. Appoint competent leaders.
3. Establish an appropriate organization and culture.
4. Provide competitive compensation and benefits packages.
5. Select the right people.
It is vital that organizations view the five areas as a holistic, integrated solution; neglecting even one of the areas will weaken the solution considerably.
1. Create a learning organization. Fast learning for high-potential employees can be facilitated through the following channels:
Give employees projects that go beyond their current job's responsibilities.
Participate in global tasks to learn Western culture and business management, and broaden employees' views.
Invite employees to present at next-level local and global management meetings.
2. Appoint competent leaders.
Appoint hands-on leaders and provide role models.
Improve leaders' communication skills.
Explain company strategy and link personal goals to business objectives.
3. Establish an appropriate organization and culture.
Create a simple and "flat" management structure.
Demonstrate the organization's values.
Repeatedly communicate the organization's values.
4. Provide competitive compensation and benefits packages.
Review salaries frequently.
Expect to give bigger salary increases than in developed countries.
Develop comprehensive packages with multiple benefits.
5. Select the right people.
Be open and honest to candidates in interviews.
Look for soft skills such as flexibility and adaptability.
Find candidates who have the capacity to grow quickly.
Story Guide:
Top Tips for Hiring and Retaining IT Talent
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Robert Half Technology's Katherine Spencer Lee on compensation
Manpower's Rick Davidson on workforce optimization
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