Recruiting and Retaining Employees for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Creativity In Workplace
Review: I've started several successful businesses and this book and the authors' comments--particularly about the recruitment of employees--were formulaic and not tolerant of creativity in the workplace.

When I read "Red Flags" in relation to resumes I thought they did not take into account the myriad needs work can meet, and that their negative view of "outside interests" was hidebound and very, very corporate. In fairness, they do mention that there are exceptions, but not with the same emphasis.

My best employee is a single mother, who is also a poet, and her resume would be utterly rejected given the book's criteria on resumes. I have offered her promotion, but she is content to do an excellent job in Customer Service rather than working another ten hours per week--she would rather enjoy her daughter.

The good part of the book is that it is relatively comprehensive, but the authors play the percentages and don't have a sense of "trusting your gut" when it comes to being an entrepreneur.

Rating:
Summary: This is a Very Helpful Book
Review: Right now there are so many companies in turmoil due to negative changes in the market and layoffs in the recent past or announced for the future. I found that this book does a great job of recommending programs and activities that managers can put in place to build a more positive sense of commitment to the team. For example, it reminds us that we need to be actively planning career paths for our employees so they in turn will plan to stay with our company. I also think it provides valuable insight on how to find and keep the best talent available on the market today. The topic comes at a critical time for key members of any management group, but especially for internal recruiters and human resource managers.