Hiring.... what's your source?

My boss was discussing sourcing strategies with me for next year, and he mentioned that we need to increase our hiring through internal referrals to 40%. Isn't it ironic that the very next day, I read the article in Times Of India talking about internal referrals keeping best talent out of companies.

The article gives some impressive figures, such as 85% of recruitment happening through specialist agencies in mature markets like UK.Still in a market like India, where talent needs to be engaged with the organisation, most of the organisations feel that a mix of different sourcing avenues is a good idea for getting the best talent.

Different sources of hiring which any company can use are as follows : 

traditional sources of hiring

1. job portals - like naukri.com, monster.com
2. placement agencies
3. employee referrals
4. Internal transfers
5. campus hiring

other sources of hiring which can be explored :

1. social media - linkedin , facebook, twitter
2. training institutes
3. job fairs
4. other industries where people may use similar skills.

I am still not sure, the best percentage for various sources of hiring... but I believe that  focus should be on two things while hiring. 

1. Quality of profiles for timely closure of position

2. Cost of hiring

sell present life to start second act in life ? Yes! one guy is doing it.

Shane Butcher

Would you like to sell everything off, whatever you have accumulated till now, and restart your life all again.  I really like the whole idea of restarting the life from the scratch. I always thought, if my life would have been like a computer. I would love to format it every time it gets virus infected and reboot it. But as of now, there is a guy in america who is trying to format his life in a little different manner.

Shane Butcher, an american, resident of florida is selling his business chain of video games stores focused on retro titles “ R U Game?”, a waterfront home on tampa bay, three cars, a rental condo a couple of kayaks and all other stuff for $3.5 million and with this money he wants to start the second act of his life, from the scratch.and the best part is, he is not going it because he is in dire need of money. He has also offered to  stick around for next six months as a mentor to the person who buys his business. He is doing it just for the sake of doing it, to restart his career and his life. 

This 29 year old american with wife and a nine month old daughter wants to explore the world, before settling down with his second career. 

Butcher says that normally people invest in lot of assets and die with it but he wants the returns earlier and thinks that perhaps someone else will like to buy the whole package together what he has assembled for himself. 

I am not sure, if anyone in India would like to do this kind of crazy thing. Or is it really crazy enough? 

GoDaddy opens Indian office

GoDaddy, the largest seller of domain names and SSL certificates opened its India office last month. Go daddy has hired Rajiv Sodhi - former microsoft India SMB head as its India MD. In June this year, local customer care executives were hired and trained in Hyderabad.

Now you can buy the domain names and server space from GoDaddy.com  or GoDaddy.in in Indian rupees through net banking or cash cards. As per the company, currently it has 1,20,000 customers in Indian market, which they want to grow further by providing simple products at competitive prices along with industry best customer service based in India. 

Why I would love to die working at Google?

This is really unheard of in any corporate. Is it going to affect and change the benefit policies of other companies? I am not sure. In today’s time when Indian corporates are actually trying to save cost and reduce benefits, which may be as basic as covering parents under medical insurance, its really pleasing to see how Google is being generous and showing the caring attitude towards its staff. I am sure, if not all at least few of the top rung companies would like to have similar benefits to show they really care for thier employees.

Google is going to introduce generous death benefits for its employees here in India. For US employees of the company, these benefits are effective since last one year.

1. The family of deceased “googler” will get half of his salary for next ten years.
2. Any stock options will vest immediately, means the bereaved family can sell or transfer the stock as per their own choice.
3. $1000 per month will be paid to each and every child of the deceased staff uptill the child completes 19 yrs of age ( or 23 yrs, if he is pursuing full time education)
4. All staff is eligible under this policy, irrespective of their joining date or designation.

Now I would definitely love to die being a googler. 

Whom should you look upon as MENTOR ?

Mentor is a person who shares wisdom and impart knowledge to someone who is less experienced. The term has been adopted in english from Greek Mythology.

As per the Greek Mythology, Mentor  was friend of Odysseus and in charge of his son, Telemachus. When odysseus left for the trojan war, Athena, goddess of wisdom in the disguise of Mentor encouraged Telemachus to stand up against the suitors and to find out about his father.

Many times, pressures and stress of corporate life, puts one in situation which is beyond one’s control.  At such moments of dilemmas, we would love to have a mentor, who can actually encourage us and provide practical guidance / plan to follow.

Though few companies in India, have started with formal mentorship program, still it requires better efforts towards effective implementation of the same.

But what should you do, if your company doesn’t offer formal mentorship program. What kind of a person you can approach to as a mentee or protégé to get the required advice. Who would be the best person to help you out as a mentor. How to find right mentor to answers to my queries or issues?

Frankly speaking, its difficult to choose your own mentor. But still, I would like to discuss few things here which may help you in your search for right mentor, who guide and provide you practical advice about your professional life.

Short term career planning:

First and foremost, decide what is your short term career plan. Where do you see yourself two years down the line. Decision can be in terms of organisation, position, role, salary or anything else. Once decided, try to find people who are already on that position or working in that particular role and if possible people who have grown from the position which is similar to you in present. If this person has gone through similar situations as you are currently going through, he/she will be able to understand you better and will be able to provide you correct and effective guidance tips.

Your relationship with this person can be more casual. He / she can be someone with whom you can go for a coffee or dinner. You should be comfortable enough to discuss questions and different ways to approach the various issues troubling you.

Long term career path:

I am sure, like me, you also must be wondering sometimes, what should you do with your career. Should you just change a job, or is it a career change that would help you in reaching your goals. Should you do some course or certification which may help you in the longer run or do you need more hands on experience in any particular trade to promote your career. These may be few strategic decisions which can steer your career in right direction. To help you in guiding and advising on such critical issues, you need someone more experienced who understand the industry and corporate culture pretty well.  This kind of mentor, may change throughout your career and may be more than one person as well.

Relationship with this kind of mentor grows gradually.This person may be your college professor or ex boss who understands you, your aspirations and can help you in sidestepping your weaknesses and working on your strengths.

There may be lot of people in your whole career whom you can turn to for advice or guidance but its always better to identify few key mentors who can ensure that you continue on the right path in smooth manner towards your career goals. 

Employee Engagement - Why is it stagnant?

As per a report in Economic Times a global study conducted by Hay groups revealed that employee engagement levels are stagnating. Employees are not willing to go to the extra mile for their organisations.

Below are few pointers, which I personally think are contributing to low levels of commitment.

• Employees are not emotionally bonded with organisations
• Organisations are not aligning personal goals of employees with organisational goals.
• No career paths defined for employees.No long term plans for employees from organisation side, which gives an impression to employees that they are in the organisation only for short term period.
• Employees see how organisations treat their peers, and create the impression about the trustworthiness of organisation.
• Organisations taking advantage of employees, whenever they have to. But not compensating enough for the skills of employees. 
• HR heads of the organisations, want  HR managers and executives to take care of other employees. But they do not take care of the employees in HR department, which leads to low morale in the HR department itself. 
• Organisations are still not process oriented but their functioning is people depandant.

The above mentioned views are my personal views. And I am keen to discuss it with other HR professionals. 

The complete article in economic times can be read here.

the Super Temps - freelancers

How come, whenever I start thinking of doing something, suddenly i see the articles around referring to the same.

Yes! I am talking of blogging and freelancing. It has been on my mind since long now. I even tried doing it once, but failed, due to bad planning. But still, somewhere deep in my heart I believe that i can be a success in it. Mainly, because i am interested in it. And I really want to do it. And as they say, when there is interest and passion, then its not work. Its fun all the way.



 In today's economic times, there is an article on freelancing. There are many successful people who are moving to freelancing and bloggers. Below is the world of freelancers depicted as in the article by Economic Times.

Would seriously work towards making easeworks  as an interesting professional blog for you all. 

The Bounce Back Book

The Bounce Back Book

Interesting news...

Got to know that that per capita income of India has rose to over Rs. 54000/- in 2010 - 2011 against Rs. 18450/- in 2001-2002. This is an annual average of 12.8% per annum during this period.

Kolaveri Di...

Ok guys.. so the whole India is dancing on "Kolaveri Di" . So let me at easeworks also share the lyrics for all of you, and make your monday happening..
Here is the video

yo boys i am singing song
soup song
flop song
why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di
why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri dirhythm correct
why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri dimaintain this
why this kolaveri..di

distance la moon-u moon-u
moon-u color-u white-u
white background night-u nigth-u
night-u color-u black-u

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di
why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di

white skin-u girl-u girl-u
girl-u heart-u black-u
eyes-u eyes-u meet-u meet-u
my future dark

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di
why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di

maama notes eduthuko
apdiye kaila sax eduthukopa pa paan pa pa paan pa pa paa pa pa paansariya vaasi
super maama ready
ready 1 2 3 4
whaa wat a change over maama
ok maama now tune change-u

kaila glass
only english..
hand la glass
glass la scotch
eyes-u full-aa tear-u
empty life-u
girl-u come-u
life reverse gear-u

lovvu lovvu oh my lovvu
you showed me bouv-u
cow-u cow-u holi cow-u
i want u hear now-u
god i m dying now-u
she is happy how-u
this song for soup boys-u
we dont have choice-u

why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di
why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di
why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di
why this kolaveri kolaveri kolaveri di