I just returned from a wonderful trip to Myrtle Beach, SC…what a great place to go!  You should try it some time.  For families, I recommend Dunes Village Resort.  OK, enough promoting those guys though they definitely deserve it. 

 While at the beach I thought I would “stay on top of things” and bring my work laptop.  At first it seemed like a good thing to do because I could keep up with projects and my colleagues but as the week moved on it almost felt like I never left the workplace.  It was still pretty relaxing but answering emails, interviewing candidates , making calls all makes it seem like your butt is still in the seat.

Now don’t get me wrong, it is a nice luxury to not have to come back to 100+ emails etc but the price you pay is not really being able to “let go”, “let your hair down” and have that “Calgone Take Me Away Moment”.  Also, most clients and candidates appreciate the extra effort, especially when you are on PTO. 

So friend or foe?!?!  Mostly friend…or may be foe….heck I don’t know.

Well mine does, sometimes!

I’ve always had a tough time being succinct. Blame it on being a detail oriented, “transparent with the client”; hate to leave out anything Ms. Perfectionist”. My boss’s boss likes to say my middle name is “one hundred percent”. (Actually I quite like that though am not sure who’s getting the last laugh here) And, on the other hand, one of my managers says I write too much aka The Gettysburg. Geez, how to please ‘em all?? I am trying hard to be succinct. Frankly it’s been a bunch of years of trying. HA. OK seriously, I get better each year like a fine wine.

Now here’s what I think about this process. There is really no right or wrong here. Common sense should prevail and of course a good command of the English language or for that matter whatever language you are presenting in. We are so “globally local” these days that you have to “Think Global, Act Local” all the time. So go with what your Hiring Manager likes, go with what your Client likes. Mirror the recipient’s style and you will likely succeed.

Here’s a little ditty I composed (think of Peas Porridge Hot, Peas Porridge Cold)

Some like it long,
Some like it short,
Some like it to the point,
As long as the story is told.

It also depends on the type of recruiting firm (Third Party Recruiter) presenting a candidate – if you are an Executive Retained Search firm (all the details, some use a standard template even), Contingency firm (a resume and few lines may work) or a Staffing firm (take the middle ground here). Moreover, the quality and quantity of details varies by the candidate’s experience, length of work history, accomplishments/accolades not mentioned on a resume (every candidate should be smart enough to list this), the level of the position within the company, the impact this position has/will have on the organization and reporting hierarchy which may lead you to have some additional information than just the usual.

You have to build your case – the story has to be told. After all YOU were the first one to talk with the candidate, weren’t you? Clients have less time and Corporate Client Hiring Managers have even less time so I make sure I include the following data points, at a minimum, in my presentation write-up, aka The Story.

1. Candidate’s full name in the introductory line. Then refer by first name or nickname or with an Honorific (Mr./Ms./Sir) if you need to be formal. This identifies The Who & sets the stage.
2. Brief intro paragraph to summarize what you think this candidate can bring to the table and how his skill set would fit in with the organization. This Justifies the Who.
3. Brief paragraph about candidate’s current job situation and why they may be looking. This is like the main plot.
4. More brief paragraphs about prior work history, reasons for leaving each position. Here you introduce the “Other Characters”.
5. Details on candidate current/most recent compensation. Some history or comp range on previous positions. These are details you don’t want to make obvious but you can’t afford not to share!
6. If the position requires relocation, make sure you discuss this with your candidate (& he/she with the family) and let the client know the candidate is able to and provide soft details if the candidate has family in that area. Otherwise, this can be quite the anticlimactic show stopper in your story!
7. Sum up with a few personal details if gathered on your screening call and wrap it up, re-iterating what great fit the candidate would be. The End.
8. Always ask for the client’s/ hiring manager’s feedback and next steps on the candidate. Action Items.

Don’t ramble, stick to the facts, and interject some opinions.

As for that Gettysburg Address reference – well guess what – the client thanked us for the details and thought it very informative. Lucked out on that one!

We all have our styles and checklists. So how do you write yours? What do you include? What do you stay away from?

When you need help with a search, what are you truly looking for?

Superior Performance – Top Talent – Uncompromising Ethics? 

Search firms and corporate clients outsource for a variety of needs and reasons, but they are all looking for the same things: they want superior service and comprehensive, individualized solutions on a per project basis bundled with the trust a true partner brings.

I’ve been in this business a long time and I have found that it is the finest RPO’s (Recruiting Process Outsourcing) skill sets that set them apart and enable them to serve clients in multiple capacities and every industry.  They look out for the client’s best interest, first and foremost.  Their out-of-the-box ideas and creative approaches allow their clients to reap the benefits of a complete solution – on time, on budget with professionalism.

The most successful partnership is that of a vested/interested/communicative client and superior RPO.  Are you looking to outsource?  There are many avenues you could choose.  Check them out.  What’s in their arsenal?

 Ya know, most of the time, I sit around shaking my head about how the human race has become nothing more than a bottom feeding blood sucking goo of about me, for me, give me, feed me, pay my bills, take care of my children.   Reading the newspaper and listening to talk radio or TV is a quick trip to the quicksand of depression.

 But every once in a while I am just knocked off my feet by a brilliant remark, insight, generosity or just good will from some of our people-kind.   That happened yesterday.  A casual remark from one of our own – a new guy on our block (AND WE NEED YOU TO BLOG STEVE!).   Out of the blue, in the middle of some kind of business discussion this guy comes out with this, paraphrasing here: “The reason I joined this business is because I truly believe that with the exception of the medical field – our profession has the greatest impact on human lives.  Whether it is finding someone the right job, keeping them out of the wrong job – we have the ability to positively influence lives.”  WOW.   What a concept.  We are not just about making money – we actually influence lives.    I had to stop and think about that for a minute. Steve is right.

 Maybe that makes me shallow and a candidate for the blood sucking goo of about me – but I LIKE feeling that we can make a difference and positively influence lives.  It just makes me feel good, and I wanted to share.

My strangest recruiting moment recently was when I had to pre-screen a prospective candidate for one of my major clients and prep them for an interview.

Per her resume, she had everything our client was looking for, an impressive education from an Ivey league University with an advanced degree along with a pretty fast track career pathway working for many of the top tier companies in her industry.  So here is the set up, we had already scheduled a prescreen in advance and confirmed via phone and email and she was already aware we had 30-45 minutes tops to complete this phone screen.

Well the phone rings and she answers as if she is sleepy, when I ask her if this is still a good time, she takes a couple of seconds or did it turn into minutes to reply? With every question I asked her and believe me I explained myself very thoroughly she would have another question for me.  If I asked for ONE example she would provide FIVE.  She would sway away from the topic at hand and start talking about traffic and events in the news.  She would shock me at times because she would give great answers but then offset it with some crazy response.  Half way into the screening process I realized we were already on the phone for over 30 minutes,  mind you it was already 6:30 pm my time and I told her we needed to get this done or I could not move her along for the next step with the client.  She apologized and said “ok I will just answer the questions”.  “Thank the lord” I said to myself, but sure enough the next question she continued with her shenanigans and even started giving me health advice and talking about her health problems. 

Boy oh boy I thought this phone call would never end.  The entire time I was thinking she must really be good at her job because how has she lasted in all these top tier companies?  Does she talk people to death?  Is this how she makes her quota?  Before our call ended I think I reminded her at least 2 more times that we needed to get this done and I had to leave to pick up my child but it did not seem to faze her much.  I hope I never get anyone on the phone like this again, but I’m sure there are people who just don’t know when to stop and talk themselves right out of a job.  GEEZ!!!