An inside hiring job

I recently read an article that stated 75 to 80% of all hiring done in late 2009 and early 2010 was done internally. In short... for all of those positions that are opened, three-fourths were filled by an internal candidate. While this does not sound good for the unemployed, it is also not ideal for the currently employed. There are reasons that people are hired within, so let's take a look at some pros and cons.

Why do companies hire within? Quite simply, to retain their employees. If someone is performing exceptionally and a position is opened at the next level, a promotion is in the works. Normally a company will be required by HR to post the open position, regardless of whether an internal candidate is slated for the job. On the downside (for society and those looking for work), this creates a false sense of hope. A person who is completely and overly qualified for the position, submits their resume, believing that this could be the position to get them back on track. They were born for this position. Little do they realize that the company already has their person, in-house, with no need for additional training or needing to get up-to-speed; no having to set up email accounts, or get them access into restricted areas, do paperwork or payroll submission, no background checks, possibly not even having to move their office, purchase new computers or equipment... all of the things that would have to happen should this position go to someone outside of the company wall.

Companies will do this to consolidate and save money as well. What happens to the position of the person who was just moved/promoted? Is that position now open for hiring? Not exactly. Companies will take that position and never refill it, instead spreading the work of that employee among the remaining staff in that area. This does not always happen, but it is a good cost saving measure for the company. That is one less salary plus benefits, one less computer to buy, office to fill with a person (more space for other projects), but the company still gets the same work or productivity.

However, you cannot get discouraged. Certainly, I have been on the bad end of this, getting a rejection email stating that the position was filled internally. But at least once, I was the outside applicant, who got the job over the person who was slated to fill the position. Between two finalists, an insider and myself (the outsider), it came down to the interview, presentation and the ideas that I brought from seeing the situation from the outside. And that is sometimes what is important: a fresh view on the situation. If you can convince the company that one of your greatest assets is your vision without knowing the history, the company will take a greater look at your potential.

NOTE: Some of the above statements behind why companies hire internally vs. externally are speculation on my part. I do not know all the reasons, however these do make sense to me.

Wired Online - 7 reasons to avoid Windows 7

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/08/7-reasons-to-avoid-windows-7/

Yesterday, Wired Online published a piece of '10 Reasons to Upgrade to Windows 7,' which was a decent overview of the upgrades from XP or Vista. By no means was it a glorious profession of 'this is the greatest OS ever!' but it did make a good argument that people should seriously consider the upgrade. And why not? Vista, for as much as people hate it, was a significant upgrade to XP, and if used properly, was all-around better: faster, more secure, a bit flashier.

I have one problem with today's reasons to avoid Windows 7. All of the points made were very logical, from price to some of the installations. However, this stuck out:

"Snow Leopard Is Almost Here
Apple’s next-generation Snow Leopard is arriving September — a month before Windows 7. Apple is promising its OS will deliver on many of the improvements Microsoft highlights in Windows 7 — 64-bit addressing, improved efficiency with task management on multiple processors, and others. It’s undetermined which OS is better, but from my own perspective as a long-time Mac user, I will say I already prefer the current Mac OS X Leopard to Windows 7. If you’re looking (or willing) to switch to a radically different OS, then OS X Snow Leopard is an option to consider before committing to Windows 7."

Seriously? Wired, you should be ashamed. Brian X. Chen, "From my own experience as a long-time Mac user?" Why did you get a long-time, Mac user to write an article about the bad things in Windows? I understand that the person to best see the downside to Windows is a Mac person, but if this is the case, you need to find people who are BIOS (BI-OS, it's a pun, get it?) or tri-OS (throw Linux in there, AND DON'T TELL ME THAT MAC OS IS THE SAME AS LINUX!), and have them write an article. I use Mac and PC (though I am PC dominant, and use Linux second), but I could tell you what's wrong with Windows 7... and tell you what's good about it. I could tell you what's good about OS 10.5, and what's bad about it.

It might be time to start taking this blogging and freelance thing seriously...

What will the White Sox do?

How many questions can a team in the running still have? Carlos Quentin was activated from the DL yesterday, and Brian Anderson was optioned to Triple-A. But that was just the beginning for a team that currently sits one game out of the first in the AL Central. Optioning Anderson was a no-doubt: Scott Podsednik has been the boost the team needed in the outfield, and with Dye in right, there was only need for one additional outfielder, Wise (who is out of options). Anderson didn't perform poorly, given that three other youngsters on the team were playing at the same level, but he also has not taken advantage of the opportunities given to him. More on him later.

Bartolo Colon made his Triple-A rehab assignment and pitched horribly. Being lit up in the MLB is one thing, being lit up in AAA is another. I cannot envision his returning to the major leagues with the Sox. He was a cheap experiment, but one that has not panned out. Richard is pitching just as well (or poorly), and I would just as soon let him gain experience as a starter (if that is where he will ultimately end up), than bring back Colon. There was also the report that Freddy Garcia was working out in the minors, which certainly was news, in hopes of a late season call-up. There's the better option: let Colon go, start Richard, and if he falters, bring in Garcia. Worst case is they all pitch the same.

The Roy Halladay sweepstakes are interesting, and I'll mention that later.

In the in-field... too many young players, playing all the same positions. How many thirdbasemen do we now have? Fields (MLB bench), Beckham (MLB starter) and Viciedo (Minor League phenom). At second there is Getz and Nix, who are seemingly fighting for playing time. Someone has to go. Fields has great potential, and I think they were too quick to pull him (but things happen behind the scenes... maybe he was causing problems). Fields is a good replacement for Konerko on a day off, and his bat is dangerous, but we're still a couple years from Konerko going DH full-time. Beckham appears to be the long-term starter at 3rd, and Getz is the future at 2nd. Nix can play anywhere, so he isn't moving. Ramirez at SS... well, my opinion is use him as trade bait. He could be the start of a package for Halladay, though I'm fairly certain Ramirez is untouchable at this point. But think... Ramirez and Danks for Halladay. Beckham moves back to his comfortable SS position, and Fields and Viciendo fight out for 3rd. Or send Anderson in the package for Halladay. It can be done.

But what about next year? Dye is free agent, are they keeping Anderson around to move in when he leaves? Quentin to right field, Pods to left, and Wise and Anderson in CF? Or do they bring up their 1st round draft pick to play center? And what about Thome who will be a FA after the season? They won't resign him at the current contract, but with his production this year, they do not have a better option, other than using Fields, which would be a waste of a good talent.

It would be ridiculous to not sign AJ to a long contract at this point, even with two good prospects in the wings. AJ brings more to this team than most people want to admit.

This has gotten long, so I'll cut short now. Only time will tell what happens with my 312 Sox.