the Maine HR Cafe

Well, after a dozen years of flying solo, my company has grown to beyond the point where they need not only me, but another HR professional. I tried to go down the efficiency route first, but the burgeoning urgent transactional workload crowded out the important opportunities, denying their investigation from concept to implementation.

The company, in fifteen months, went from 69 employees to nearly 120. Two dozen transfers due to assimilation, plus three dozen new hires, minus a smattering of mostly voluntary terminations filled the time between payroll, benefits, open enrollment, recruitment and the typical humdrum of Human Resources Services Requests.

My well intentioned plans of efficiency first then hire second was not feasible. By mid December, the strategic plan was modified to deal with reality. The job was announced at a job fair, followed by an online posting, then an announcement at the monthly HR chapter meeting. Publicly, I’m looking for pick of the litter. Privately, I’m torn between protege or partner. What I don’t want is a positional competitor. The interview process will reveal the path.

The first rush through the six dozen resumes was completed this evening yielding three dozen that met the blended requirements of HR experience, college degree and/or S/PHR certification. Ambition and potential were read into and between the lines. Some cover letters were succinct, others elaborative, some were blank. Too many resumes we’re job description litanies, others were strengthened wapiti supportable results.

Now that this first rush through is complete, I will pause to reflect on what the company truly needs. And the on boarding process needs to be mapped out.

~ by RMSJr on December 28, 2011.

Posted in HR