In economic times like these, everyone is looking for ways to shore up their companies against the unpredictable. Human resources is a great place to start. A solid system of hiring, training and motivating employees is one of the most important ways a company can successfully ride out tough times. Here are 10 ideas for making HR the best it can be.


1. Invest in a hiring system. It might sound like a disconnect — spending more money in these tough economic times. But here’s why it makes sense to think about investing in the technology that will help you streamline your hiring. As the unemployment rate increases, so does the amount of resumes you’re going to be wading through for each available position. It’s more important than ever to hire the best people for the job but when you’re deluged with resumes, it’s difficult to hire on target.

2. Get serious about testing. Are you certain you’re hiring the right people for the job? You don’t have to guess at it. Tests for intelligence, character traits and a whole host of other factors can tell you who will succeed in any given position.

3. Clone your star employees. It’s easier than you think. Look around and decide who are the shining stars in each department. Next, find out what makes them tick by giving them tests for intelligence and character traits, and you’ll have a great base from which to compare potential new hires.

4. Beef up training for new employees. In many companies, training is on the chopping block when budgets get tight. This is a mistake! Hiring the best people is only the first step. Training is the bridge that leads from the good hire to true excellence on the job.

5. Beef up ongoing training for current employees. During tough economic times, companies are competing for ever-shrinking consumer dollars. That means you need to be playing your A game every single day. As important as it is to properly train new employees, it’s just as vital to train and retrain your current employees. It’s about brushing up on skill sets, infusing departments with new vigor and enthusiasm, and making sure your departments are running at full speed.

6. Streamline processes and procedures. A recession is the perfect time to take a hard look, department by department, at how your company gets things done. Frankly, most departments never question processes and procedures and instead simply do things the way they’ve always been done. But close examination oftentimes uncovers hidden redundancies and snags that can be a drain on your productivity and your budget. Are you the most efficient you can be, or are you bogged down by old, traditional processes? Paperwork is a good first place to start— is it really necessary to send those forms in triplicate, or can you do the same thing online?

7. Take the pulse of your employees early and often. In tough economic times, it’s common for employees to be nervous about their jobs. Use anonymous surveys to gauge how your employees feel about the company, the future and their prospects, in addition to asking for suggestions and recommendations. Follow up the surveys with action based on what you’ve learned.

8. Make sure employees know exactly what is expected of them. Clearly define each employee’s job description, performance requirements, goals and any other intangibles that contribute to success on the job. When people know what’s expected of them, they’ll feel more secure, even in tough economic times.

9. Create a team atmosphere. If your company is riding unpredictable waves of revenue, let your employees know what’s happening and ask for their help. In a recession, it’s the caliber of employees that contributes to a company sinking or swimming. You’re all part of a team that needs every member playing their best, every day. Let your employees know how important they are to overall success, and ask them to push even more toward excellence.

10. Get creative with employee incentives. Asking employees to push toward excellence is great — giving them incentive to do so is even better. If your budget it tight, use days off, layoff “immunity,” or other creative, low-cost measures as an incentive.




Charlie Wonderlic is the President and CEO of Wonderlic Inc., a premiere provider of employee recruitment, selection, development and retention solutions. For more information about customized hiring solutions from Wonderlic, visit www.wonderlic.com