Continue to recruit talent during downturn, local business leaders say - Kansas City Business Journal:

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“In the financial servicees world, you do your best recruitinb in theworst markets,” said Paul chairman, president and CEO of & Co., “We grew our headcount four and a half percenr last year when the industrh was down 20 percent. We’ll probabl grow another 5 percent this year when the industryy will be down another 15 Purcell was one of three panelists who took part in a panel discussion hosted bythe . Jeffrehy Joerres, chairman, president and CEO of Milwaukee-basee global staffing firm (NYSE: moderated the discussion.
“When I’m running around smiling when thingxsare tough, it’s because I know that we’ree adding to the strength of our Purcell said. “I love downturnsd because you can actually manage the peoplethat you’ve got and managse the future much better than during an upturn.” Havintg a top-notch brand is a major benefit in recruiting quality employees, said Peggy Troy, presidenr and chief executive officer of , “We have such a strong brand presence not only in the Milwaukewe area but throughout the state of Wisconsin and in the wholes Midwest region,” Troy “Our ability to attracty talent is very positive.
” Developing and retainintg leaders from within an organization also is crucial, she Children’s Hospital uses a talent management proceszs to determine the level of leadershipo skills for various positions within the Troy said. “As we are trying to recruir and promote, we know exactly what the job requirementx are,” she said. Recruiting top-level talent to the Milwauker canbe challenging, Purcel l said. Baird has been successful in attracting employees who were raised inthe area. “You can only builf a firm like Baird only so far with just Purcell said.
“Then you have to go and get peopls in and you have to getthem You’ve got to get them in high school or righy out of college. Once they get a little bit older, it’sz a little bit of a harder sell.” Recruiting durinvg the gloomy winter months tends to createe additional challenges in recruitinh employees from outsidethe area, Troy said. “Youy don’t want to bring people here in the but you’ve got to be honest aboutr it,” she said. “But Milwaukee offers a lot of opportunitiee in terms offamily life.
” Companies also need to be activde in demonstrating “inclusion” at work and in the communitgy when it comes to attracting employees of diverse ethnicf and racial backgrounds, said David Myers, presideny of the building efficiency group for Glendale-based JCI). “It’s really makesw a big impact,” he said. Companies in the Milwaukede have made major strides inembracinyg racial, ethnic and gender diversity at the corporate boare level and management ranks, Joerresw said. “Progress has been he said.