CAREERS MEDIA: Regional employers seek innovative, creative staff: report

<p>In today's highly-competitive world where marketing initiatives </p><p>must be formulated quickly but precisely and where an ad cluttered </p><p>environment is the norm, employers are increasingly looking for </p><p>innovative and creative staff to give them the edge over the </p><p>competition. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>This was one of the main findings of the latest quarterly Morgan & Banks </p><p>Job Index Survey in Hong Kong. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Morgan & Banks regional manager for human resources Mr Kevin McCormick </p><p>told MEDIA, "This means that companies are focused in attracting and </p><p>developing staff who can think outside the box." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Testing for innovation and creativity appears to be a norm these days </p><p>with job candidates asked to draw up a mock business plan or campaign </p><p>which would be in addition to reference checks and an examination of </p><p>track record. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The need for customer focus in staff came in as the second most sought </p><p>after attribute - once again linked to changing environments and </p><p>increasingly demanding customer expectation. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"Specific skills and the ability to prioritise were what employers were </p><p>looking for before, but today they are looking for good attributes as </p><p>well. Attributes which will help the company beat the competition and </p><p>grow," Mr McCormick said. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>On the talent shortfall in the advertising industry, he said, "There </p><p>isn't a shortage of skill. There's a shortage of good attributes." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The Job Index Survey also found that most employers are still to be in </p><p>the hiring mood in the final quarter of this year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Overall, a record-breaking 60.8 per cent of companies said they were </p><p>likely to employ more people in the three months to December, an </p><p>increase of 9.6 per cent from the previous quarter. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The mood in the advertising industry was not as optimistic. Forty-five </p><p>per cent said they would be increasing staffing levels, while only two </p><p>per cent said they would reduce employee numbers. The rest, 52 per cent, </p><p>said there would be no change. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Despite the drop in the number of advertising agencies and departments </p><p>saying they would employ more people, Mr McCormick said 45 per cent was </p><p>still on the "optimistic side". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Meanwhile, respondents said in selecting an employer, they would </p><p>consider the benefits package offered to staff and the perceived image </p><p>of the organisation in the marketplace. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>