What is Going on in the Real World of Hiring and HR - Part 2 [Podcast]

Episode #188 – Marc Interviews Gary O’Neal and David Hughen on Their Perspectives of What is Going on in the Real World of Hiring and HR

Description:

This is the second part of a Career Pivot community call that was held with Gary O’Neal and David Hughen.

If you have not listened to the first half you can listen to it here.

When companies think of HR in Austin, they think of David Hughen. Cofounder of Austin HR, acquired by Asure Software, David has built his 25+ year career on helping organizations succeed by coaching their leaders and addressing their human resource needs.

David’s focus is on optimizing employee commitment, performance, and productivity by aligning them to the organization’s strategic business goals.

Gary O’Neal is the founder of HireFactors.com and is one of the most respected recruiters in central Texas. Gary has been on the podcast twice before:

Gary makes his money helping his clients hire great teams.

This episode is sponsored by Career Pivot. Check out the Career Pivot Community.

Now on to the podcast…

Ageism

David does not have a definite marker for age bias. Companies that have been ageist by nature will likely continue. If they have ageist bias why would you want to work there?

Gary says “same as it ever was, same as it ever was…..” referencing Talking Heads song Once in a Lifetime. Gary has not seen any material changes as it relates to ageism.

Gary says that if you feel agism in your job search, you need to dig down to find out what are their real concerns and address them.

Contract versus Full-Time Employee

Gary talks about the only real difference between contract positions versus being a full-time employee is who pays the taxes and how easy is it to let you go. It is much easier to let a contractor go than a full-time employee.

David thinks that companies may very well ease into growing their staff and they will do that by contracting.

If the job have a beginning, middle, and end, then you are in a much more risky position.

Real Estate

David has been facilitating a series of panel discussions of facility managers. There is broad agreement that space will be used differently. It is much more likely that people will work from home and the office will be more of a touchdown place to hold meetings and other special activities.

David suggests you watch the CBS Sunday Morning Episode Rethinking the post-pandemic workplace.

Commercial real estate will take a major hit. Most if not all of the companies that Gary and David work with are not renewing leases as they expire.

Companies are now considering remotely located candidates with the plan that they will relocate when the pandemic is over but they will be no office space for them to move to.

Satellite offices will likely thrive using sub-lease space. Coffee shops will remain popular.

Industries

David says there are a number of companies that are thriving. Samsung is thriving. So are logistic companies like Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and the USPS. Alen, which makes air purifiers, has had its business triple.

Online businesses will continue to do well.

Gary says it is all about people and to focus on people who have problems you know how to solve. The companies and industries will self-select.

Higher Education

Those institutions that are primarily brick and mortar will struggle. These universities need people in their seats and many need foreign students. Institutions that have converted to online learning like Arizona State will thrive.

You can contact Gary at Gary@hirefactors.com. Gary is on LinkedIn

You can contact David at David@austinworknet.com. David is on LinkedIn.