Louise Kursmark

Making the Case for Active Candidates

Louise Kursmark
Most good recruiters worth their salt take pride in the “great find” – the candidate with the perfect credentials who has not been on anyone’s radar screen. Certainly, some of the value that recruiters bring to the hiring process is their ability to identify and pursue the intriguing “possibles” who are not actively in the job market. But sometimes this pride can go too far, to the point that recruiters dismiss those job seekers who…

Long Live the Resume!

Louise Kursmark
I hate to contradict my respected colleague Tony Lee (“New to the Endangered Species List: the Resume,” Recruiting Trends, Aug. ‘07), but I see no sign that the resume is endangered or dying. Sure, it’s evolving, and at a fast pace to match our dynamic high-tech culture. But until online applications improve to the point that they are actually useful tools for employers, the resume will remain an essential element of the job search. Consider these…

Generation-Friendly Recruitment and Retention

Louise Kursmark
Great news for Baby Boomers! According to recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers 55 and older are enjoying the biggest pay raises of any age group. This same age group is the only one whose participation in the workforce is growing. Interpreting these trends, it is clear that traditional retirement has changed. Anecdotally, from my work with people in career transition, I know that workers age 55+ are remaining in the work…

Retaining “A” Players through the Hiring Process

Louise Kursmark
It’s rare for a recruiter never to lose a top prospect. After all, “A” players are in demand, and retaining them from first contact to job acceptance involves not only a deft recruiting approach but also that magic “fit” with the right opportunity at the right company. Still, there are things recruiters can do – and do better – to give themselves every chance of closing the deal with a top candidate. Consider this: In a recent…