My Challenge for You...

I recently made a decision to pursue a new opportunity.  I want to share my story to, perhaps, inspire you to challenge yourself to take chances and to never stop taking chances.

As a recruiter, I always tell candidates that I headhunt, "It's just conversation until an offer is in your hands. It's always good to see what's out there."  When the time came when someone headhunted ME, I was not a hypocrite.  I took the call, and I listened.  I answered genuinely.  I am honest when I say that I actually got very nervous because I had the chance to interview with many of the C-level execs with whom I'd be working very closely with - something that has yet to happen to me in my career.

Don't get me wrong.  I was not looking for a new position.  I loved the company I was working for.  I loved my team, and my manager.  In fact, I had never worked for a better company, team, or manager EVER in my career.

Why did I take the call?

Because I don't like the feeling of regret.  How would I know this new company wasn't the perfect chance for me to showcase my skills?  The simple answer is: I wouldn't.  Not unless I took the time to learn about it.

Just as much as they were interviewing me for the role, I was interviewing them for a personal fit.  I'm a firm believer that culture drives a company.  I have been in situations where I "dulled" my personality to fit the culture of the company I was interviewing at, for those interviewers who would never get my humor or my personality.  The outcome of that was dismal.  I did not enjoy my time there, and that was no one's fault but my own.  It wasn't a fit for me.

So, in this interview process, I was myself.  I asked about things that were important to me.  I joked around with them to see how well I'd be able to work with them.  How much were they engaging with me, and me with them?  In the end, I realized it was a good fit all around - job duties, growth, culture, opportunity.

This new venture will be a different one for me.  This new company is a start-up.  I will be one of two recruiters during this company's hypergrowth mode.  I will be staffing this amazing start-up with some of the best talent out there.  Where before I was following policies and procedures already set in place before me, I now will be helping to develop these policies and procedures for those following me.  It's exciting, nerve wrecking, and motivating all at the same time.

My challenge for you is to never close any doors because you never know when opportunity will come knocking (cliche much?).  Any decision you make today will help develop you for tomorrow.

Things to take away:

• Network.  Always.  And never stop.  
• Answer recruiters' emails, every time, even if it is just to tell them you are not interested.
• Be yourself.  I find that so many people try to be someone else come interview time.  I get why you do that.  But don't.  You are who you are, and many companies will hire for culture fit.  And if it isn't the right culture for YOU, in the long run, you probably won't be happy.
• Take chances.  Put yourself out there, and do not fear being rejected.  Each "no" is one step closer to the "yes".
• Be honest.  With yourself and with anyone you talk to.  Talk about your dreams and your desires, your strengths and your weaknesses.  Don't ever be afraid to confront your weaknesses to make them your strengths.

In the words of James Altucher, "Choose yourself."

What I Would Tell My 20-Year-Old Self...

I often think back to my college days and whether my choices may, or may not, have directed me to where I am today.  And the answer is a resounding YES.

The beginning of my college career was interesting.  I started off as pre-med / pre-pharmacy, and I KNEW I didn't want to pursue a career in healthcare.  Why I did it, you ask?  Because my parents wanted me to.  Not that they wouldn't have been happy with me having a career in business, but because in their generation, a career in healthcare meant stability and job security.  I struggled for nearly two years to tell them I didn't want to pursue their dream.  All the while, I was still taking courses I had absolutely no interest in.

Once I broke the news to my parents, I realized I was on my own now.  They knew nothing about any industry outside of healthcare.  I was left to navigate the rest of my adult life... by myself.  Scary!  

Over the second half of my college years, I found a major that was broad and useful in many aspects of "business".  I had two minors where I explored interests I had - like real estate, property management, and language skills.  In that time, I took internships in the hours I wasn't working or in school.  Some of those internships were absolute disasters; I'd go home hating my life and dreading the next 2 hour day I had to work.  Some of those internships really piqued my interest, and I continued searching for positions in the same category.

In the end, my decisions absolutely led me to where I am today.  What I didn't realize when I was 20, I realize now.  They say "hindsight is 20/20", and that couldn't be closer to the truth.

• Things are going to be hard.  Sometimes, very very hard... and both physically and emotionally draining.  And when you think you're going to give up.  Don't.  You have the capability to push through any tough phase because that's all it is - a phase.

• Don't study/pursue something just because someone else "wants" you to, or tells you to.  Your interests are your own.  You are a unique individual, and no one can tell you what you'd be good at.  Figure that out on your own.

• Take a personal finance course.  Once you realize you don't have the financial support of anyone else but yourself, you have to know how to best utilize your assets.

• Take a social etiquette course, where ever you can find one.  You may think it's ridiculous to learn how to fold your napkin when you walk away from a table, but you will likely have many business dinners in your future where this will come in handy.  

• Take a course in interviewing / resume writing.  Believe it or not, interviewing is a skill that can be taught.  And just as you learned how to write essays in middle-school, it's time you learn how to draw up a great resume.

• Start networking.  And never stop networking.  You never know when the person you are talking to in your 20s, will be the next-big-thing's CEO.  

• If there is only one thing you take away, make it this.  This is a marathon, and not a sprint.  You are not going to accomplish what you want without a few bumps along the way.  But each speed bump is just a reminder to keep yourself motivated, and to keep pushing forward.

Social Recruiting

What is this new term, "social recruiting", anyway???

Most common definition says it is defined as the process in which recruiters source for candidates via social mediums.

Still, what does that mean?!

To Recruiters, "social recruiting" means:

• ... that we can connect with top talent faster and better than ever before
• ... that we can build relationships with that talent for current or future hiring needs
• ... that "we" (recruiter and/or company) have a real voice
• ... that we can learn more about a candidate than what is portrayed on their resume
• ... that we can network faster and better than ever before

To Candidates, "social recruiting" means:

• ... that you can make yourself "findable" across social mediums
• ... that you can give yourself a human voice
• ... that you can tell your story, instead of the recruiter assuming what your story actually is
• ... that you can engage with employees and recruiters at the company you are interested in
• ... that you can provide (your) industry specific knowledge to those seeking it - be a subject matter expert (SME)

There are so many avenues that we engage with candidates.  To name a few (not an extensive list), the most popular are: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus. 

If you were to ask me how to start engaging in this new way of recruiting, I would tell you to network!  Go find recruiters from XYZ company on LinkedIn.  Connect with them, and engage with them.  Find the Facebook Page of XYZ company and engage with them - ask them questions, provide input on topics.  Start a Twitter account.  Post commentary on your industry, become a SME in it, provide your opinions on topics that are important to your industry, and don't forget to #hashtag.  

The best piece of advice I got when I asked about creating my "social profile" is to give myself a face.  If you look at my LinkedIn, Twitter and my blog, all my pictures are the same.  It makes me easily recognizable to those seeking me out.  

Good luck!  And as always, I'm all ears!

Discussing Flexibility

This is always a tricky topic to bring up.  Whether you want to be able to work from home a few days a week, work 7am-4pm to avoid rush-hour traffic, or take a 2 hour "lunch" to pick up your child from daycare and drop them off at home.  These are things to take into consideration when looking for a new opportunity.

When you approach the conversation of flexibility in the workplace depends on your situation.

If your situation absolutely requires flexibility (ie: your child gets off from school at 2:30pm and needs to be picked up and dropped off at grandma's at 3pm), it is best to bring this up almost immediately.  While the position seems to have been written for you, the manager may want their ideal candidate to be "butt in seat, 9-5, everyday".  It will be better, for all parties, to know up front whether or not this opportunity will be a fit for you.

However, if you are simply curious about the flexibility perks, my suggestion is to wait until you have an offer in hand.  Casually bring it up as a "curiosity", and use their answer to help you make your decision on their offer.

Remember, as much as the company is interviewing you, you are interviewing them.  As much as some of us like to believe that our careers lead our lives, that isn't always the truth.  Take a step back and evaluate your life, needs, and career.  The best fit for you will be the company that can fulfill all aspects that you are looking for.

And, as always... I'm all ears!

Why Corporate Recruiting?

How / Why did you get into recruiting?

That's a question I got when I was interviewing.  It's also a question I frequently get when talking to friends.

My journey to the Corporate Recruiting world started in 2004.  I was finishing school, interning for a private money management company in their sales department.  They brought me on full time once I finished school, and I went into a sales role.  Cold calling.  Appointment setting.  Tracking the money I was bringing into the firm.  I was better at sales than I ever thought I could be, especially in an industry I honestly knew nothing about.  I made a lot of money.  But I wasn't happy.

What was missing?

In sales, it's very much about "how can you help ME?"  When, in turn, I really wanted to help THEM.  I wanted to provide them with their best options - whether or not it was truly with our firm.  I started thinking about a way to combine something I was good at (sales) with something that would make me feel good about what I was doing for a living.

In 2008, I was approached for an internal position as a Corporate Recruiter, and I jumped at the opportunity.  What better way to fill that void I felt!  I landed in a position where I would "sell" the managers on candidates that I was presenting to them, where I would "sell" the candidate on what makes our company great to work at, where I fulfilled my own desire to be helpful.  I was helping a company fill its organization with great talent, while helping someone looking for a great "home" to display their expertise.

Selfishly, I made the move for myself.

And in the end, that decision to move out of sales, away from the big money income, the glorious "President's Club" trips, and the pretentiousness of being the best has left me feeling extremely fulfilled in my career.

I have considered moving to the agency side of recruiting, but I want to feel like I am helping to grow ONE organization.  I want to live, breathe, and BE the culture I am promoting and supporting.

I love what I do.  I love the feedback I get from managers when I find their perfect candidate.  I love the emails I get from candidates saying they had the best candidate experience and "THANK YOU for helping me."

I am a matchmaker.  I am the one who walks away with a sly smile knowing that all is right in the world for *this* exact moment.

Now... let me ask you... why do you do what you do?

Questions to Ask in an Interview

Interviewer:  Is there anything I can answer for you?
Candidate:  No, I think I know everything I need to know.

Let's face it.  Do you really know EVERYTHING you need to know about the company you're interviewing at?  

You should assume that every interviewer will allow you an opportunity to ask questions of them.  I urge you to ask them!  Engaging the interviewer shows them that you are a part of the conversation, and that you are interviewing them as well.  After all, you will have to be working with them.  On top of looking like you are genuinely interested in the company and the team, it shows you came prepared.  

Below, I list some of the types of questions you can consider asking your potential-future-employer:

• Future of the industry (ie: cloud technology, solar, potato powered cars)
• Growth of the company over the past few years
• Planned future growth of the company
• Company culture
• Team structure / hierarchy 
• Opportunity for growth
• The interviewer's career path

Things you should avoid asking:

• Salary (unless the interviewer brings it up)
• Benefits (unless the interviewer brings it up)
• Soft benefits
• Paid Time Off / PTO
• Sabbaticals
• "Bring your dog to work" day

At the end of the day, remember that an interview is just a conversation.  It should never be question-answer-question-answer.  Make it interactive; make it a give-and-take.  Don't be afraid to ask questions mid-interview.  Don't be afraid to interject if you are confused about the job duties.

Just as much as the company is interviewing you, you are interviewing them.

Generation: Technology

When I started recruiting, LinkedIn had just started "taking off", LinkedIn Recruiter had not yet gained its momentum, Facebook Pages didn't exist, and neither did #hashtags.  Over the course of my career, I've had to adapt to new technology, new applications, new ways of thinking.  What would happen if I didn't?  I'd fall behind and become irrelevant to my career.

I oftentimes get questions about why people are getting overlooked.  One quick glance at their resume usually provides me with the answer: they haven't kept up with technology.  By example, if you're in accounting and still keep the books by pencil and graph paper, your "kind" is becoming extinct. 

Companies want to hire the candidates who are up-to-date on systems and technologies they are currently using. In this day in age, it is an expectation (not a qualification) to: operate a Windows operating system with ease, know how to use MS Office (at very minimum Word and Outlook), know how to operate an office phone system, know how to use a smartphone.  

Technology is always changing.  Industries are ever evolving.  If you don't keep up, you will be left behind.

Find Me A Job...

As a Corporate Recruiter, I cannot begin to tell you how many times someone (acquaintances and strangers are equally guilty) will email me their resume and say "I'm interested in working for your company".

GREAT!

But, do us a favor.  Please go to our Job Board and find a position that interests you.  Tell us why you are interested and what makes you a good fit.  If we aren't the recruiter for that position, rest assured that we will forward your resume to the correct recruiter.  While we'd love to help find you a great job, it is not a good use of anyone's time to go back and forth, "Do you like this position? What about this one? Or this one?"  We don't want to make assumptions on what you are interested in and/or what you would be good at.

If you are interested in working for our company...