Talent Attraction Drives Discussion at Chamber Meeting

(POSTED BY PRESIDENT AND CEO BEN HASKEW)

The Greenville Chamber’s Board of Governors meeting on February 24th featured an interesting twist. Those members present, some 35 in all, were engaged in a discussion around attracting talent to the community.

Ralph Hejlik, CEO of NationJob, one of the country’s top internet job boards and partner with the Chamber, presented recent trends in attracting talent. Hejlik said it is very apparent that people are picking where they want to live before they decide on an actual position. Livability and quality of life are factors at the top of the list he said. Trailing spouses is another important issue.

Chamber Chairman Tim Justice said the Chamber has convened a task force to develop a well-rounded talent recruitment program. “We have helped larger companies in the past, but we want a program that can be equally as helpful to entrepreneurs,” Justice said.

Several executives in the meeting highlighted the importance of good education in the community as an attractor in recruiting. From a distance, education in the south or South Carolina may be perceived as a negative. Greenville and the Upstate have great resources and we have to overcome that bias.

A survey of those present revealed that 84% of those companies or organizations represented see 2009-10 as flat or with some growth. Many companies will hire new employees this year and in 2010, about 220 positions in all.

We would like to open the door through this blog to hear reactions to the meeting (good and bad), as well as give everyone that was present an opportunity to say something they may have thought about after the fact, plus give an opportunity for those that were not there to get in on the conversation. Please, share your throughts with us, we are listening...