BEHIND THE SCENES (Part 1)

Behind the Scenes (part 1)

I always encourage job searchers to stay in touch with their network and the recruiters they like.  Some do a great job of it while others don’t.  Here’s what happened the other day.

Brent sent me an email to remind me that he is still in the job market and he doesn’t want us to forget about him.  We try to stay in touch with candidates but it’s hard sometimes and things move quickly.  We have over 21,000 records in the database.  I do it by driving a list and by sending a quarterly newsletter.  Unfortunately things fall through the cracks.  I encourage people to stay in touch with their network, recruiters, influencers, ex-coworkers,  etc. by scheduling meetings, sending email updates, phone calls, etc.  Prioritize and set the communication medium according to importance and what your network contact prefers.  I’m an email guy so I encourage them to send emails.  Again, some do and some don’t.  Most of my high level candidates don’t send updates regularly.

Brent’s was short and sweet and it included an updated resume.  He mentioned (in his 4 – 5 line email) that he just added some software recognition experience to his resume.  When I get an update, I look at what we have going in contract and I look at the searches we are working on.  Right then.  We have a great database and each of the recruiters do a full search when we get new positions.  However an update can put a candidate top of mind immediately….at least for me.

I don’t mind if it’s just a quick email  or if it’s a well thought out page or two.  Send a new one every 4 – 5 weeks.  Pretty soon you have a big network that is current and up to date (on you)!  One of our director level (F,P&A) candidates does a really nice periodic update and I always think of her when we get relevant positions.  Her updates are great but a short one is ok too!  Bottom line – I think of her.  And now I’m thinking of Brent. 

I think people don’t do this because 1) they are afraid they will bug their contacts and 2) they might be uncomfortable because it’s hard to “sell” yourself and ask for help.  Most people don’t mind a quick email.  Ask them when you meet them if you can stay in touch.  Your best contacts might want to go to lunch or coffee once a month.  Or tertiary contacts might like an email every couple of months.  Prioritize by who can help you.  Also don’t forget to always ask what you can do for them. (See Part 2 below)

BEHIND THE SCENES (Part 2)

Behind the Scenes (part 2)

So back to Brent.  I get his update.  He must have looked at our job listings on the web site.   We have a Controller position that requires Rev Rec experience.  I emailed Deb (one of the top ranked recruiters in the state) (she hates when I mention that) and she looked at his profile in the system.  She emailed me: “Cliff I think he is at a higher salary range.”   “Well, maybe – but I think he might be interested.  Why not try?”  She emailed Tom, who did the original interview.  He emailed both of us “Let’s go for it.  Deb do you want me to call him?”  Deb wanted to call him.  And she did.  This happened in less than a minute or two and Brent probably didn’t spend much time on his short (but highly effective) email.

Now ideally, we should find him when we do the full search – inside our database and out in the market.  However these things move quickly and his old resume didn’t have the rev rec experience.  Will he get the job?  I don’t know.  He’s a good guy and I’d like that.  We are only going to send 3 – 5 resumes so……was his update a good idea? 

He touched Deb, Tom and me.  All three people are in the market all day long.  I went to lunch with the Controller of one of our clients today.  He’s a friend and I told him about the update.  He mentioned that Brent had contacted him a couple of months ago.,  He  had been really busy with year end and he made a mental note to email Brent to get together soon (for networking). 

Multiply the update X 100 contacts.  Imagine how effective that will be.  Stay in touch with your network!!

NOT CRUEL AND UNCARING

A quick one today.  Several months ago I walked into Sharon and Monica’s office.  Sharon’s face was red and slightly swollen.  Her eyes watery.  Monica was very quiet.  It was quiet.  “Hey ladies.”  

“hey”   I think I got a response.

  “What’s the matter?”  I’m known for beating around the bush.

“Well, we have to call T _ _ _ _.    XYZ is going to have to postpone his start date.  They might not be able to even hire anyone…...”  This sentence took a while because both were crying.  It was a small fee and they weren’t concerned about that.  They knew that T wanted this job badly….and the company wanted him.  However XYZ’s client wasn’t ready to move forward (through no fault of their own).  Monica and Sharon really like him and they wanted him to get this job.  He needed this job.  They felt so badly for him and they didn’t want him to have to deal with this bad news. 

Both Sharon and Monica have over ten years experience in search and staffing.  This job can make you a little calloused, cold and uncaring.  It made me stop and think about how we can help people, even if it’s just being a sounding board.  It also made me reflect on how I need to stop more often and think about the lives of the people we are dealing with.  Losing a job, and then searching for a new one…..life changing, daunting, difficult, depressing, worrisome, fearsome, lonely.   I left their office knowing I am lucky to be on the same team.