Business

Addressing Immediate Hiring Needs Through Quiet Hiring

Published

2 years ago

February 28, 2023

Hiring usually falls into three categories: backfilling roles, creating new ones, or addressing immediate needs. Quiet hiring is about that third category, even if it doesn’t technically involve any new hiring.

The idea of this strategy is to prioritize the most crucial functions at a given time. With Gartner predicting “quiet hiring” as the top workforce trend for 2023, it’s important to know exactly what it is and how to use it appropriately within the organization.

Quiet hiring is essentially when an organization gains new skills without having to hire a full-time employee. Sometimes, it means hiring short-term contractors or providing current employees with more responsibilities. This can mean moving employees around between departments, training them and hiring up, or simply taking on a heavier workload.

Jason LaMonica, COO of staffing company Spec on the Job, weighs in on what quiet hiring would look like for blue-collar industries. “It’s about changing the narrative,” he says. “Instead of upskilling or promoting internal managers with no experience in the field, hire a contractor outside of your organization and train them before making a full-time committment. They know the industry and they know the field. With a little bit of training, they’ll get the job done right.”

According to LaMonica, hiring contractors provides a number of benefits for companies seeking to address immediate hiring needs while saving onboarding costs. These include streamlining hiring by saving time and resources on recruiting, onboarding faster and from a wider talent pool, and allowing the staffing company to handle compliance needs.

“Hiring contractors allows companies to fill talent gaps faster,” LaMonica says, “especially if they are staffing to address peaks or valleys in their business. Moreover, it provides companies with time to ensure that the new contractors are a good fit for their team as well as easier avenues to terminate their contract if they aren’t.”

The reality is, since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a labor shortage that continues to increase each year. Some argue that this is due to employers refusing to pay the appropriate wage to their employees. Others counter that, since there are more job openings than people, jobseekers are taking advantage to get a higher paying role. Regardless of why there’s a labor shortage, there still exists a need to quickly adapt to the rapidly evolving workforce.

By hiring from outside the organization and providing the necessary training or schooling, companies will be able to increase retention, engagement, and productivity. “When companies work with trade schools or community colleges to provide additional training to its contractors, it provides those outsourced employees with something to look forward to,” LaMonica insists. “By offering clear paths for development that could eventually provide them with full-time employment, there’s a lower chance that they’ll seek another job that doesn’t offer advancement opportunities.”

“Whether or not we go into recession, everyone’s a little nervous,” concedes LaMonica. “Every employer still has financial goals to meet, and they can’t meet those goals if immediate hiring needs aren’t met.”

According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the average cost per hire is $4,700 and it takes about 36-42 days to fill the position. In a potential recession, this is too much of an expense for any company, quiet hiring and upskilling current employees help reduce that cost.

According to LinkedIn’s survey, “companies that excel at internal mobility retain employees for an average of 5.4 years, nearly twice as long as companies that struggle with it.” For companies looking to improve retention rates from the contractors they oursource, this is a significant number to consider when thinking about their hiring needs.

“I’m passionate about building companies, growing teams, and having my work change the world,” LaMonica states. “As part of a staffing company dedicated to blue-collar industries, it’s important to know when recruitment costs outweigh hiring within the company.” Understanding this difference will help companies become recession-proof by increasing employee retention and lowering overhead costs.

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.