"Like others, I personally believe that many hiring authorities have been waiting, in some cases too long, to see some indication of employment activity. That activity has now commenced, and with it, not only is the race for the best talent on, but for some, it means a real scramble to get the best candidate onboard quickly or deal with lost productivity."

A Good Man Is Hard To Find

In 2003, parent company MECHdata rolled out its management recruitment division called findMEP. This business is designed for those employers with difficult-to-fill assignments such as senior management and engineering professionals that require perhaps a more personalized and extensive recruitment effort in talking with talent that is currently not on the market.

According to the company, the findMEP staff takes the time to learn their client's business and recruitment needs, then executes an action plan that includes scouring the industry's talent.

"We've learned that progressive companies never stop interviewing candidates, even during the downturn when they had no immediate needs" said Mike Fitzgerald, vice president and general manager of findMEP. "These are the organizations that are always a step ahead of the pack. They understand the advantages of being proactive with their recruitment strategy. When the right candidate becomes available, they are ready to take full advantage of their opportunity to add incredible talent to their organization. This technique not only increases productivity, but helps maintain company morale as well."

Publication date: 03/22/2004