We may not be working alongside robotic colleagues anytime soon, but as we noted earlier in our series of posts about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), AI is poised to disrupt the labor market dramatically in the next decade. While many fear the job losses that organizations such as Forrester Research or OECD are predicting, others are examining the ways in which today’s technology professionals will need to transfer or add to their skills. Read the rest of this entry »
What Job Skills Will Be In Demand for the AI Era?
April 2nd, 2018 by ifi-adminJob Seekers: Are You Ready for the AI Work World?
March 19th, 2018 by ifi-admin
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was once the realm of sci-fi, but today many professionals increasingly find aspects of their work life infused with AI and Machine Learning. Rapid advances in AI disciplines such as facial recognition, natural language understanding and computer vision, are increasingly in use in a wide range of tasks, performing fraud detection, market analysis and medical diagnosis.
How future-proof is your career?
Recent research by McKinsey & Co predicts that as many as one-third of American workers may need to find new lines of work by 2030 thanks to the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the labor market.
The report estimates that in the majority of existing occupations at least 30 percent of constituent work activities could be automated. On the brighter side, AI will also create new occupations that do not exist today. Read the rest of this entry »
Employer Tips: Preparing Your Workforce for AI
March 19th, 2018 by ifi-admin
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic in 2018, with pundits from both the positive and negative camps predicting a paradigm shift in employment and productivity rivaled only by the industrial revolution. From robotic task execution to predictive algorithms, various strains of AI are already disrupting the workplace. Rapid advances in Machine Learning (ML), such as facial recognition, natural language understanding and computer vision, are increasingly in use in fraud detection, market analysis and medical diagnosis.
According to Forrester forecasts, automation will eliminate 17 percent of US jobs by 2027, offset by the growth of 10 percent new jobs from the automation economy. A McKinsey & Co report released recently projects that as many as one-third of American workers may need to find new lines of work by 2030.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a Paris-based world research institution, has hosted symposiums and published research in an effort to analyze the impact of AI on labor markets. It predicts that there will be a further polarization of low-skilled and high-skilled jobs. Contributing researcher, Stuart Elliot of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, notes that only 11% of adults are currently above the skill level that AI is close to replicating. Read the rest of this entry »
Sourcing Candidates: Is Your Company Overlooking Silver and Bronze “Medalists”?
February 26th, 2018 by ifi-admin
Whether or not you’re a fan of the winter Olympics, you have to admire the dedication and craft that paves the path to the podium. Gold medal winners are usually just a fraction more skilled – or luckier – than those next to them on the podium.
You wouldn’t dream of scoffing at a silver or bronze medal in the Olympics. Would you overlook a candidate who was previously a close second – or third – for a position with your company?
The Wall Street Journal addressed the issue recently in an article titled “Tight Labor Market turns Silver Medalists Into Winners.” In the article, Vanessa Fuhrmans cites the struggle to fill jobs in the tight labor market as cause for companies to court and hire their so-called “silver, and even bronze, medalists.” Read the rest of this entry »
Candidate Tips: The Importance of Showcasing Your Soft Skills
February 19th, 2018 by ifi-admin
Technology professionals who also have the ability to communicate effectively, collaborate with a team, and who are adaptable to the ever-changing needs of a dynamic market are highly sought-after by organizations, especially at the managerial and executive level.
How can you get the inside track on an open position? Do this by showcasing your soft skills. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Meet the Challenge of Global Recruiting
February 5th, 2018 by ifi-admin
In today’s global economy where many larger companies have facilities outside the United States, recruiting in a foreign culture to fill positions at these locations can be a challenge. Working with a company like Phoenix Partners which has international resources can facilitate the recruiting process.
What’s At Stake
According to the American Enterprise Institute, thinking globally is essential for survival in the current business climate. In an analysis of the World Investment Report, economic professor Mark Perry wrote that many of our largest US-based multi-national companies (MNCs) have close to two-thirds of their total sales outside the US. Almost all of these MNCs have more than half of their workforces outside the US, and some employ nearly 75% of their workers overseas. Many of the US MNCs above have more than half of their corporate assets (property, plant and equipment) located outside the US. Read the rest of this entry »
7 Tips For Working With Recruiters
January 22nd, 2018 by ifi-admin
Phoenix Partners works with employers to find established and rising talent for their technical and IT roles. The companies who engage with us most commonly:
A) Have a sense of urgency in filling a position
B) Have not been successful finding qualified applicants
C) Have a position that requires specialized skills, typically in IT and Technology
Also, it’s not uncommon for us to work with our clients on an exclusive basis, and we frequently have access to positions that are not public, otherwise know as the “hidden marketplace.”
We establish relationships with our candidates by increasing their comfort level, confidentiality and respect. You can stay “top-of-mind” with a reputable recruiter by following these guidelines: Read the rest of this entry »
The Win-Win of Widening the Net to Find Candidates Geared for Growth
January 9th, 2018 by ifi-admin
Employers who seek to win the IT Talent war need to develop new strategies in 2018 to remain on the leading edge and thus be able to hire the “best and brightest”.
Last week the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the unemployment rate remained stable nationally for the third consecutive month in a row at 4.1%. In the metropolitan Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area the jobless rate dropped to 4.4%, .1% lower than the same time last year.
At the same time, information technology roles remain the fastest growing occupation, projected to add 546,000 new jobs to the workforce in the next decade. Read the rest of this entry »
Part II: 5 Goal-Setting Tips for Job Searching Success in 2018
December 26th, 2017 by ifi-admin
In our last installment, we suggested that you take some time as the year winds down to review and define your career goals by being specific, examining your motivation, assessing the obstacles to achieving these goals and brainstorming ways to overcome the obstacles.
As we approach the end of the year, many people will be making New Year’s resolutions. Forbes Magazine reports that while 40% of the American population make New Year’s Resolutions each year, only 8% achieve their goals.
Why do so few succeed? According to the article, which surveyed the research on how the brain looks for answers, the trick is to keep it simple and make it tangible.
We’ll look at how this might apply to your career goals in 2018.
1. Create the Master Plan but Keep It Simple: If you want to succeed with your career goals, do not load yourself up with a bucket list of disparate goals for the year. Devote your focus and your intent to your job search, and map out what you think it will take to succeed. Create a master plan that builds logically on the elements that formulate success. In this plan, outline the discoveries you made in your review, and the action steps required to overcome obstacles. Put this plan in writing.
2. Create the Room, and Routine, to Succeed: If from your 2017 career review you’ve determined you’d like to begin a job search targeted at specific companies, now is the time to schedule blocks of time each week to make progress. For example, you may set aside a set number of hours each week and if possible, specific times of the day to review new job postings, research employers, chat with your recruiter, brush up your resume or work toward any certifications that will enhance your candidacy. Be realistic and give yourself time to make incremental progress toward finding exactly the right fit for your next career move.
3. Set Concrete Milestones: Setting vague or unrealistic goals is the cause of many failed New Year’s resolutions. Just like in business, personal goals need measurable elements to map the path to success. In this case, once you’ve mapped out your master action plan, formulate a way to measure your progress each week or month. Assign yourself a number of companies to research and a number of resume submissions to make. Trust that with dedicated effort, you will ultimately succeed in your career goals. Hold yourself accountable to your milestones.
4. Physically Track Your Progress: Whether it’s milestones written into your planner or on a dedicated cork board, being able to visually see the progress you’re making can move you forward. Posting visible reminders of your goals and the practice of telling others your plans creates a sense of accountability that will help you stay on track.
5. Be Flexible…and Unstoppable: Perfect plans are subject to the real world and sometimes it seems like “life” keeps moving the goal posts. On one hand, expect the unexpected and be prepared to be flexible with yourself. Revise your goals when new conditions or opportunities arise. On the other hand, be unstoppable in moving toward your goals. Setbacks are only failures if you stop trying.
If you need some help setting goals, or you are motivated to make a career move in 2018, please feel free to Contact Us today and get started!
Ways to Woo Millennial Tech Talent in 2018 & Why You Should
December 14th, 2017 by ifi-admin
Happy Holidays!
As the New Year approaches, many employers are poised to increase their company’s hiring volume. The challenge will be to fill those new positions in a market where demand outpaces supply.
Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 228,000 in November, and the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent. Employment continued to trend up in professional and business services, manufacturing, and health care. In a separate report, BLS adjusted Q3 economic growth to 3.3%.
Engineering and IT Most Active Industries
Indeed, the popular job site, recently reported in their 2018 Employer Outlook Survey that 61% of employers say they will increase hires in 2018. The report found most companies in nearly every industry will see a jump in hiring in 2018, but some will be more aggressive than others. The most active industries for recruiting are architecture and engineering where 82% plan to hire, followed by IT/telecom companies and professional services firms at 75% and 71% respectively. A thousand employers were polled for the report.
Pitching Woo Through Perks
According to a Robert Half report that compiled survey responses from 8,000 technical professionals and 2,500 CIOs, many are using the following perks to woo IT talent:
- Flexible work schedules (62%)
- Regular social events (39%)
- Remote work opportunities (34%)
- On-site or free gym membership (25%)
- A compressed schedule (17%)
- Free food (17%)
Sharing the Spoils
To keep talent motivated, companies are also offering:
- Incentives for individual and team achievements (37%)
- Profit sharing (20%)
- Retention bonuses (18%)
- Stock options (18%)
- Deferred compensation (16%)
More Ways to Woo Millennials:
- Digital relevancy – Millennials will surreptitiously Google your company before they even consider applying. If there is little information, an outdated website and a tiny social footprint, they could perceive that the business is behind the times.
- Emphasize mission and purpose – CIO magazine reports that attracting talent from industry titans is possible if a candidate feels they can make a major positive impact on the lives of end-users and customers. Be sure to connect the role to impact.
- Know What’s Important – Millennials value flexibility, philanthropy, meaningful work, transparency and innovation. In other words, they value corporate culture. Find ways to convey yours.
- Stay Current on Wage Expectations – Compensation across the board for workers is expected to go up about 3 percent this year, and a bit more than that in 2018, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. According to Robert Half, 44 percent of CIOs say they miss out on top talent because candidates are seeking higher salaries than they’re able to offer.
What are your hiring plans for 2018? Talk to us about ways we can help.