Tim Augustine leads human resources, marketing, business development, information technology and administration for Atwell-Hicks, a national land development consulting firm based in Ann Arbor, Mich, where he is vice president of corporate services. Prior to joining Atwell-Hicks in 2004, Augustine served as managing partner and co-owner of the Herman Draack Company, a national human resources consulting firm based in Chicago. Tim has also served as the vice president of strategic marketing for Unitech Systems, an international software company.

Augustine earned a MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business and Bachelor degrees in marketing and speech communications from Kent State University. He also served as a professor at Illinois Institute of Technology's Stuart School of Management teaching strategic marketing for the MBA Program.

Augustine is a successful author and professional speaker of How Hard Are You Knocking? The Job Seekers Guide to Opening Career Doors. His seminars and book have been featured nationally on ABC and NBC, and reviewed in USA Today, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The National Association for Campus Activities. He has made numerous radio and television appearances and presented to over 350 organizations throughout the United States.

Active in professional organizations and within the community, Augustine is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), The Chicago Software Association, and the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the board of directors for Chicago's Open Heart Magic, a non-profit organization that provides interactive bedside magic to children in hospitals. Augustine is a mentor for College Bound, a volunteer organization that provides scholarships, mentoring, and tutoring for Chicago-area high school students.

Columns

Be Interested, Not Interesting

The purpose of interviewing is to learn more about the candidate; his skills, knowledge, education, experience, and cultural fit; and assess his interest in your firm. Then why do interviewers talk so much?

People Integration During Mergers

If you want a merger or acquisition to really succeed, you must consider the employee integration process, and how the merging of the two companies will affect them.

Diversity Builds a Business

Different perspectives and ideas can spring firms back to life.

Get Ready for Battle

The war for talent is on. How will you find the qualified hires to grow your business?

Critical Hires for a Start-Up

Your business plan is done -- now get to work finding team members to help you put it into action.

Reconnect with Promising Candidates

The beginning of the year is an excellent time to start recruiting those employees disenchanted with their current situations.

Don't Wait For the Exit Interview

Be as proactive as possible and try to gain as much feedback from staff during their tenure as opposed to relying on exit interviews to implement change.

Beware of the "F" Word

If a position in your firm cannot be "forgettable" then be sure to fill it with a candidate who not only has the technical skills, but also the personality and cultural fit that will leave a great first impression with anyone he or she meets.

Back to School for Candidates

Develop a college recruitment program that builds your firm's brand and identifies future stars.

Grow Your Future Leaders

Show new and potential employees the growth opportunities in your business by building a program that cultivates leaders from within.

Not Your Typical Employee Suggestion Box

Utilize your employees' creative ideas to improve your firm's operations.

Hire Finishers!

Finishers are people who get things done. Here's how you can find and hire them.

Where Do You Want to be in Five Years?

Career development can be a powerful tool for recruiting new employees and retaining your top performers.

Building a Solid Orientation Program

Establish an employee orientation program that reinforces your new hire's decision to join the your firm.

Why Employees Really Decide To Leave

And what you can do about it.

Make Everyone a Recruiter

Your employees can be valuable referral sources. Here's how to put them to work.

It's about the Culture

Why do employees choose one job over another? Often, it's because of culture. Learn how to communicate the virtues of yours.

What is your People Strategy?

A strong team is often the result of a recruitment strategy that goes well beyond HR.