Fall 2009 issue of Horizons

Raise Your Expectations CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS

5. Hire people with potential. Look for candidates who show a progression in their career. Hire the people who should be running the company in the next three years. 6. Hire A players instead of B players (especially if the company is in a high growth mode). B players focus on getting activities done; A players focus on achieving results. (A players’ salaries are usually 10-20 percent higher, but they deliver 300-500 percent greater results.) Consider hiring contract employees. Hiring business professionals on a temporary basis is a great way to complete a project that could not be completed otherwise. Contract employees can work for a month or for several years depending on the company’s needs, without incurring employment costs such as payroll tax, insurance and benefits. Now is the time to take advantage of hiring exceptional talent, both temporary and permanent. Abacus Recruiting is a division of RubinBrown LLP, St. Louis’ largest accounting firm. Abacus Recruiting specializes in accounting, financial, marketing, human resources and business management recruiting. Abacus is a trusted advisor with its clients in finding exceptional talent.

is its PEOPLE. This asset is even more important in uncertain times, when survival may depend on strong leadership and maintaining high levels of customer service. With outstanding performers now in the job market, companies have access to professionals who would not have been available one year ago. Even though managers are closely watching budgets, it makes sense to hire professionals who can help enhance a company’s depth of skills and expertise now and in the future. • Leadership: Strong company leadership leads to satisfied customers and employees. • Customer Service: Now is the time to focus on customer service. This differentiates companies from the competition. • Technology: Keeping technology up-to-date will provide quick and accurate response time to customers and attract quality professionals to the company. 1. Define desired results for a role before recruiting for it. Having a well-written job description with clear expectations of results is critical to success. 2. Identify skills and knowledge needed to produce the result. If the candidate is missing any of the mandatory requirements in this list, he/she would not be a candidate for the position. Aim for this standard to produce exceptional hires. 3. Do not hire the best candidate; hire the candidate who is 100 percent qualified. A candidate is either 100 percent qualified or not. There is no middle ground. 4. Look for specific proof of skills needed to deliver the desired outcome. Use a “proof-based” approach. Look for examples of how the candidate has demonstrated each specific skill. After all, Missouri is the “Show Me State.” Hiring the best people can protect a company from the competition by enhancing the following: Hiring right is a key skill in finding the best talent.

Questions? Contact:

Tamara Vazquez President ABACUS Executive Recruiting 314.878.5522 tamara@abacusrecruiting.com Eric Hahn Recruiting Manager ABACUS Executive Recruiting 314.878.5522 eric@abacusrecruiting.com

20 u fall 2009 issue