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

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

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