Hurricane Evacuees Don’t Necessarily Have an Edge in Getting Hired, HR Managers at HR.BLR.com say

Asked the question: 'With all other factors being equal, would you give preference to a job applicant who was a hurricane evacuee?' - only one-third of human resource professionals who participated in an online poll at HR.BLR.com said they’d give preference in their hiring decisions to applicants who’ve been evacuated as a result of hurricane Katrina or Rita.

Old Saybrook, CT (PRWEB) October 13, 2005 -- Only one-third of human resource professionals who participated in an online poll at HR.BLR.com, the website for HR managers, said they’d give preference in their hiring decisions to applicants who’ve been evacuated as a result of hurricane Katrina or Rita.

HR.BLR.com asked, “With all other factors being equal, would you give preference to a job applicant who was a hurricane evacuee?” Here’s how participants responded:

No – 38%

Yes – 33%

Not sure – 30%

The poll drew 461 participants between October 6 and October 10.

The results shouldn’t be taken as a sign of disdain by HR professionals, especially since they’re usually the ones coordinating the charitable giving in their workplaces, according to Kevin Flood, managing editor of HR.BLR.com.

“Even with the qualifier ‘all other things being equal’ in the question, the participants might have had a strong reaction to seeing the word ‘preference’ in the question,” Flood speculated. “Hiring managers are so intent on getting the person with the best qualifications, they’re instinctively against choosing on any other basis, qualifier or not.”

Moreover, Flood said, an HR manager might vote one way in the poll but decide differently after interviewing an actual evacuee. “This might be reflected in the high percentage of ‘not sure’ votes,” he observed.

For HR managers who want to ensure they leave no stone unturned in their recruiting, BLR offers a free report: “e-cruiting 101: How to Find New Employees.”

It shows how to use career sites, list-servs, and your own website to attract qualified applicants. You’ll also learn how to find those passive job seekers. And when all the resumes start pouring in, you'll know how to handle them.

Download the report here: http://www.blr.com/82008400/PRS56

About BLR:

Old Saybrook, Conn.-based BLR produces plain-English compliance and training resources for HR, compensation, safety, and environmental managers. For more information and a free catalog, call 800-727-5257 or visit www.BLR.com.

Contact: HR.BLR.com Managing Web Editor Kevin Flood, 860 510-0100 x 2283

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