Last week I presented a seminar on “Generational Differences” here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The group was mostly Baby Boomers and Gen X’ers complaining about our newest Generation “the Millennials” whom are just now starting to enter the workplace. The number one thing that most of the attendees wanted to get out of my program was to learn more about what was up with these new workers? Why couldn’t they get more “work” out of these workers and why did they all act sooooooo entitled even though they had only worked 2 days? Funny—well not so if you manage these people. After a very engaging hour and 1/2 most people left the seminar understanding more about themselves, their expectations and how their generation can work productively with all four generations in the workplace these days. I learned from the group (once again) how critical it is to NOT JUDGE anyone, just learn and understand where they came from and what their individual generational expectations are.

Well..we are two weeks into Spring here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and as I type the ground is covered in fresh white powder and the skies are grey. I wonder if we will ever see grass and blue sky. Spring is a transitional time for everyone. Time to clean out all the closets and dust behind all the furniture. Open the windows and finally get some fresh air in the house. Ahhhhhh…….it will feel good (once it warms up a bit). We also see a lot of folks searching for new opportunities in Resort locations. Many professionals whom are feeling a bit stagnant with their current positions start to keep their eyes open for new opportunities. Lot’s of new graduates head our way to fulfil their dream of living in a Resort location. For employers, we recommend expanding your current recruitment efforts to find these folks. For applicants……we recommend that they continue to work towards connecting with that perfect balance of lifestyle and workstyle here in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado!

The Resort Recruiters Housing Connection is a new fantastic tool to help in your rental search! The Housing Connection lets you search for a rental units by property type, city and monthly rent. This website allows you to view how many bedrooms, bathrooms and if pets are allowed. Whether you are looking for short or long term rentals the Housing Connection is the place to look! Our recruiting team is happy to assist you in your search.

We hear the frustrations daily from our local Steamboat Springs, Colorado employers. In our weekly meetings, community board meetings, individual client meetings…even during our grocery shopping trips and weekend ski outings. The number one issue here in our resort location is sourcing and retaining quality talent. Yet not often do we hear what they are doing to increase or support their recruiting efforts. The situation is very similar to our “lack of affordable housing” issue which is always a hot topic and has been for years yet the only proactive thing that ever comes from the discussions are more meetings, more discussion and unfortunately no action on moving forward with a solution.

With our years of Human Capital experience and recruiting for resort located businesses we hope to be able to help resort businesses whom don’t have the staffing resources to strengthen their recruitment strategies promote their employment brand and build new creative recruitment methods and help them set forth proactive measures to ensure their recruiting challenges are met for the “talent gap” that our resort businesses are starting to feel the effects of.

Working together we can create recruitment programs to strengthen and grow our local resort workforce for years to come.

Karen Goedert

Resort Recruiters Staff

Hello fellow employers and employees!

Wow..is it a challenge — recruiting in our resort environments. We recently conducted a Recruiting 101 workshop here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and the challenges of sourcing, screening, hiring, retaining, and housing our new workforce was a conversation that went on for hours. Check out some of the tidbits about what our talent pool is going to look like in the next 5-10 years.

1. Over the next 20 years, one person will retire every minute.
2. Generation X is roughly ½ the size of the retiring Baby Boomers. (this little fact will produce a bit of a talent gap)
3. One million bank teller positions to fill by 2014

4. Currently we have about 4 Million Real Estate Agents….58% or 2.3 million will retire starting in 2010

If you are not talking about your recruiting strategies daily with your management staff….or creating new creative recruiting methods then you are behind your competition.