HR has a unique opportunity to be the change we want to see in our organizations.  When we say "oh, we can't do that" or "did you fill out the form and route it through six layers of approval" we know we have change indicator.  As we become more and more strategic and less and less tactical we must step back and see the wider picture.  That wider picture includes a true business analysis of where we are today and where we need to go.

• We must RECOGNIZE the need to change.
• We must DEVELOP the plan to change
• We must EXECUTE the plan

It sounds so simple.  Especially when you see it in sound-bite form.  But it is really really really hard to do. I recently read that CEOs spend almost 20% of each day making sure that the changes they have implemented are actually happening.  If the CEO is spending 20%, I'm guessing we need to spend at least double that.  Coaching, mentoring, and being the champion of the change.  It is exhausting.  It is lonely.  But, trust yourself.  Trust (but inspect) your team.  Trust in the change.It will be worth it in the end.

As I was reading the Boston Sunday Globe, I happened to glance through the “Help Wanted” section with one thought running through my mind…”Who still advertises open positions in the newspaper?”  Well, along with the players that I suspected…The MBTA, the area hospitals, and a few non-profits, I saw an old school display ad for Technical Positions at Yahoo!  The Internet portal.  The ad goes into detail about the amazing technology, the impact that the Internet has on society, and that you will “create the next generation of Internet experiences for consumers and advertisers across the globe”. 

At the end of the ad, they send you to their private career site—not Yahoo Jobs—to apply. 

I’ve done my share of recruiting and some of it in high technology organizations.  Why would I want to hire a Technical Yahoo! Person who was looking for a job in the newspaper Help Wanted section unless I was looking for an old school COBOL programmer? 

The display ad just doesn’t make sense, in my opinion.  If you want Technical people, you’ve got to go shopping where technical people hang out.  At a minimum, you should be on a specialty job board or send your recruiter to a technical conference.  The Globe?  Really? 

Disagree?  We’d love to hear from you.

I thought I might help MIke out, through my blog, and see if I get him on the road to a new job.  We all know how hard job searching is especially when we're good at a lot of things and not quite sure what we want to do next.  I'm a huge advocate of exploration--God knows I've done my fair share--but there are some methodologies that seem to work better than others.

First, our friend Mike isn't really interested in EVERY job out there.  There are bound to be some that he knows he isn't going to want to do.  Let's create this list so we don't waste any time in those areas.  Second, is relocation an option?  If not, let's not bother.  No intention of moving to Nebraska no matter how good the job is--then don't even consider Nebraska. Third, are there some general interest areas?  If so, let's start exploring them.

I worked with a job seeker who thought he wanted to do programming within the Microsoft Sharepoint platform.  He was very determined and convinced that was his future.  Then I asked two key questions:

   1. Have you ever spoken to a Sharepoint developer?
   2. Have you ever researched what type of education you need to be a Sharepoint developer?

The answer to both questions was "no".  And now we have a starting spot.

So, Mike, start talking to people, in person, and find out about interesting jobs at interesting companies.  You'll be buying a lot of coffee so fill up your Starbucks card.  Ask people about their jobs and let them talk.  Most people love to talk about themselves and rarely have the opportunity to tell you about their work.  When there is passion, you'll know it.  When the work, company, or the person gets you going on the inside you'll start to narrow your list even further.

That is the question here in Boston.  So, let me tell you a story.  The Hyatt Hotel in its attempt to, I'm sure, save money recently outsourced all of its housekeeping staff.  But that isn't really the story here.  I am all for outsourcing when it makes sense but I'm more familiar with white collar outsourcing than I am with blue collar outsourcing.  This was downright mean outsourcing.

Click here if you want more details

In any event, the management of the hotels told the housekeepers that they were training new workers to fill in for vacations and to reduce overtime.  The staff, of course, was more than happy to train the relief workers and they understood that there would be less overtime.

Then, the hotel fired all of the housekeepers.  Some with over 22 years of tenure.  They had dutifully trained their replacements.  The Hyatt leadership team thought this was a great idea.  Well, it didn't please the Governor of Massachusetts, the Mayor of Boston, or the Cab Drivers.  Yep, all three threatened a boycott of the hotels. 

Yes!

They Hyatt responded.  They offered the housekeepers their jobs back with the new outsourcing company at their current wage and benefit level for one year.  Then, of course, their jobs would be eliminated and the new lower paid, crappy benefits team would rule the school.

And the Hyatt was surprised when many of the housekeepers didn't take the deal.  Why?  Hmmm, it is like a slow death--just waiting for the clock to count down the days until they are finished.  Many other hotels in town were more than happy to pick up the talent.  In fact, the Hyatt housekeepers, fully trained in working in a full service business class hotel were happy to put themselves to work at the Marriott, Hilton, Westin, and the new uber hip W.

I reflect on Ted Kennedy Jr.'s speech at his father's funeral mass.  When young Ted queried his father about why he left money for the maid when she already gets paid his father reflected back to him "Teddy, making beds all day long is back breaking work.  This woman has a family to feed and life isn't easy" (I'm sure I've butchered the quote but you get the idea).  If you want to hear the eulogy.

I think Ted Kennedy said all that needed to be said.