Compensation discussions are always the same: Workers want more. Companies want to pay less. And somewhere in the middle the two shall meet.

But this year is a little extra. After a decade-long hiring boom, we had a pandemic, followed by runaway salary inflation, then a tanking job market (for Office Dorks™️ anyway), and another bounce back (fingers crossed.)

Which really means we have some workers unwilling to move from those high paying jobs they landed in 2021/2022. While others are taking whatever they can get. Then you’ve got some companies thinking they can still cut costs. While others are paying up because they have to.

Throw in increased pressure for AI and low cost offshoring and it’s the wild west.

Jeff Smith and James Hornick dig into the disparity and lack of clarity around fair market value in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 103, "Compensation is a Trainwreck”

In this episode, hosts Bill Gates and Rosanna Snediker invite Steph Brogan, the founder of Pivotal HR Partners. Steph shares insights from her extensive experience in HR and Total Rewards at renowned companies like Campbell Soup, Morton Salt, and Revantage. The conversation delves into Steph's career path, the intricacies of compensation and benefits, the impact of pay transparency laws, and challenges in M&A and HR operations. Steph also provides practical advice for those considering a shift to consulting. The episode is packed with valuable HR strategies and best practices, making it a must-listen for professionals in the field.

As 2024 wraps up, Ryan and Emily highlight key trends:

1. Digital Transformation: AI, automation, and data reshaped recruitment, freeing up time for relationship-building.

2. Gig Economy: Freelancers became essential; flexibility will be crucial in 2025.

3. Candidate Experience: Personalization and transparency are key to attracting top talent.

4. Talent Retention: Upskilling and career development boost employee satisfaction and retention.

They share takeaways to include in your 2025 plan such as embracing technology, adapting to the gig economy, and investing in employee growth for success.

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty good about 2025. Hirewell closed out the year on a hot streak. Best 4 month stretch in 2 years. 21 new solutions clients signed since May 1. And more chatter about increased hiring from both VC-backed start ups and traditional industries alike.

So if hiring’s on the upswing, what new challenge will take its place? Getting candidates to say yes and sticking around, of course!

Every delayed search, declined offer, quick exit, and unexpected resignation comes from a lack of understanding that there's a lot more to hiring than recruiting. Jeff Smith and James Hornick will do a deep dive on what your company needs to focus on in a strengthening job market in the The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 102, "Finding Candidates is the Easy Part”

In this episode of The Hirewell Update, hosts Ryan Brown and Emily Goor discuss strategies for increasing employee engagement and connection during the holiday season, especially in a remote work environment. They explore various ways companies can foster a sense of community and retention, such as virtual team celebrations, personalized gift exchanges, flexible time off, and community service initiatives like City Santa. They emphasize the importance of meaningful, thoughtful gestures and invite listeners to share their own ideas for enhancing company culture during the holidays.

Be careful what you wish for.

We’ve long said recruitment technology is comically behind the times. (Feel free to go way back and watch episode 6, "Why Does HR Technology Suck?") Historically, it’s the last place for new innovation when there’s more money to be made creating sales or marketing tech.

But if you work in recruiting and you looked at your inbox over the last year, you probably noticed the steady increase in spam pitches. New RecruitTech is popping up left and right. Maybe AI made it cheaper to create. Maybe buyers in recruiting are finally the low hanging fruit.

But the real question: is any of it any good? Jeff Smith and James Hornick. will tackle that in the The 10 Minute Talent Rant, episode 101, "The RecruitTech Hellscape Is Here”

In this episode of Beyond The Offer, hosts Bill Gates and Rosanna Snediker speak with Daina Gjemre, Head of HR at Renovo Solutions, about her journey from journalism to HR and her experience at FCB Global and ST Residential. They discuss the challenges of managing HR in a PE-backed, growth-focused company, integrating acquisitions, benchmarking benefits to stay competitive, handling busy periods, and the latest trends in HR tools and technology. Tune in to learn more!

When we started this little podcast, we thought “What can we possibly complain about? We’re gonna run out of material after a dozen episodes.”

But recruiting is the gift that keeps on giving. The problems we need to solve are never-ending. So much so that even we’ve forgotten half the stuff we’ve ranted about at this point.

So to celebrate the milestone, Jeff Smith and James Hornick will sift through the archives and find out the 10 best – and 5 worst – hot takes so far. The 10 Minute Talent Rant, episode 100, "The Best (And Worst) Of The 10 Minute Talent Rant”

Join hosts Bill Gates and Rosanna Snediker in Episode 5 of Beyond The Offer, where they speak with Lisa Watson, Director of Talent Acquisition at ASC Engineering Solutions. They discuss the challenges of building a recruiting function in a merged organization, adapting to market changes, new tools, and the evolving needs of candidates. Tune in for insights into corporate vs. agency recruiting, building relationships, and navigating today's recruitment landscape.

In this episode, we cover Forbes' insights on the current white-collar job market, highlighting a surge in job opportunities in sectors like construction, government, and healthcare, while the white-collar market faces challenges. Hiring processes have become more complex, with longer timelines averaging over 22 weeks for job seekers. Sectors such as communications, media, and tech are experiencing significant layoffs, contributing to a competitive landscape. The discussion touches on how Amazon's return-to-work mandate is pushing a shift back to onsite work. Despite these challenges, recent hiring figures indicate a positive trend, encouraging job seekers to explore opportunities in growing fields and adapt to industry changes.

  Music in episode from TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™