Manage HR Magazine Highlights Calculated Hire’s Workforce Transformation Program, Elevate, as an Innovative Approach to Short-Term & Long-Term Challenges
As we approach the halfway point of 2024, we look back with a sigh of relief that the US economy has yet again escaped the “hard landing” that so many economists have warned about… or at least we have for another month. Although there have been some major layoffs throughout the year, April marked the 27th consecutive month of the unemployment rate remaining under 4.0% - the longest streak since 1953, and the 40th month of consistent job gains. In addition to this tight labor market, April also brought news of the latest deferral to raise interest rates by the Federal Reserve. With some experts signaling that cuts won’t be coming any sooner than September or even 2025, this year is shaping to be another challenging year for leaders across all industries.
How do I continue to grow when the future is uncertain? How can I be more effective with my resource alignment? What do I do with my growing wish list of initiatives?
Planning for the future is always a challenge, regardless of whether it’s a bull or bear market, but as leaders, our employees and stakeholders depend on us to always be moving the needle forward. When we need to create more with less, I have often found that it’s the creative approaches that fair the best in the long run and that’s what this piece is all about, a creative approach to short-term execution, workforce transformation, and long-term succession planning.
The Challenges with Any Resource Strategy
Calculated Hire is a professional services and recruiting firm that specializes in the central business areas of Accounting, Finance, and Compliance, Marketing and Creative, Sales and Customer Experience, and HR and Operations. As the Vice President of Sales, I assist our reps in addressing the unique needs of our clients through our ability to augment staff, design, and implement a professional service model, and transform workforces with our patented Elevate program. I have seen both sides of the traditional resource strategies, as I’m sure so have you, and it’s no secret that both have their flaws.
On one hand, relying solely on direct hires can be a long time-consuming process for your managers and HR department, plus ineffective talent pools can quickly dry up leaving you with few qualified candidates. This is especially the case when the US is in a tight labor market like 2024. However, heavy reliance on external support can get costly, and that’s before accounting for the hidden cost of the knowledge loss that most organizations experience after rolling off their consultants. I am not saying that one strategy is better than the other - remember, our company assists clients with both. However, I am pointing out that there are undeniable flaws to both options, which is why Calculated Hire worked so hard to develop a creative approach that addresses these common issues.
Elevate: Upskilling Talent to Build the Workforces of Tomorrow
Elevate is Calculated Hire’s workforce transformation program designed to upskill talent and build sustainable workforces of the future. Or in less salesy terms, Elevate is our creative way of providing cost-effective consultants for your short-term needs combined with the framework and ability to convert these consultants into full-time employees. Customers across all industries invest in our program to address skill gaps, infuse diversity, and create seamless succession plans. For example, say you need help managing your customer service center – retention is low, and the training process is intensive. With Elevate, we provide additional resources during the peak seasons and allow you to convert any top performers to full-time employees once the peak is over.
Who Are Our Elevate Consultants?
We pipeline with a purpose, giving organizations access to strategic talent pools and customizable professional development. Enabling organizations to engage individuals reflective of the communities they serve.
“(Elevate) has been such a blessing! Its focus on soft skills really helped me become more communicative and confident. (Calculated Hire) invested the time to help me grow and improve my professional skills as well. That’s valuable to me!” - Government Help Desk Associate & Elevate Graduate
Why Do Our Clients Love the Elevate Program?
Put simply, it provides cost-effective resources and pairs them with the targeted upskilling and certifications that our clients need to thrive, but don’t just take my word for it.
“The Elevate program has allowed us to source cost-effective early-in-career resources paired with their professional and technical training. This year, we have added two of their consultants to our team as FTEs, and both were provided advanced Informatica training free of charge through the Elevate program." - Chief Data Officer, Multinational Professional Services Network
Thank you for taking the time to read my latest insights piece. If you are interested in learning more about the Elevate program or any other of Calculated Hire’s adaptable solutions, please visit our website or contact us today!
This story was reposted from Manage HR Magazine’s “Vendor Viewpoints – Staff Augmentation” piece submitted by Robert Bauscher. Click here to view the publication in its original form.
