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."

Does this make me look fat?

Congratulations!

You have been invited for an onsite interview at the company you've had your sights on for months.  Aside from being prepared for the interview (e.g.: reading up on the company, knowing about the person/people you will be interviewing with, having a list of questions you want to ask them about the company and the position), deciding what to wear is just as important.

I tend to go by the rule, "You can never be overdressed."  This is true in almost any scenario.  This is especially true in interviews.  Whether you're interviewing at a chic start-up company in Silicon Valley (y'know, the ones that wear flip flops and baseball hats to work), or a prestigious Fortune 500 company, I suggest the following guidelines.


Men

• Dark suit.  This means black, brown, navy.  Solid color or pinstripes.  Please, no obnoxious plaid or polka dots.
• White shirt.  Go with the crisp, white, button down shirt.  Leave the print and colored shirts for the holiday parties.
• Tie.  I feel this is optional.  But, should you choose to wear a tie, go with a power color - blue or red.  Make it your "statement" piece.
• Dress socks.  You laugh, but I'm serious.  Please wear tall dress socks.  I have had candidates come in wearing white tube socks.  
• Nice shoes.  Polish them.  Make sure the laces are not tattered.  Shoes say a lot about a man. 

Women

• Dark suit.  Again, this means black, brown, navy.  Solid or pinstripe.  Skirts are ok, but keep them conservative - no more than a couple inches above the knees.  Although, I do feel like women have a little more flexibility in this option.  I don't feel a jacket is always necessary, as a sweater (in a neutral, solid color) should do just fine.
• Simple jewelry.  Don't wear anything that will distract you, distract the interviewer from you, or that will make a lot of noise when you move (think: bangles).
• Pull your hair off your face.  Yes, bangs are pretty.  But no one wants to see you fumble with that piece that gets in your eye one too many times.
• Same rule applies.  Wear nice shoes.  Flats or a shoe with a 1-2" heel should work just fine.

As shallow as it may sound, first impressions are everything.  You will be judged by what you are wearing, how you present yourself, your handshake, your eye contact, and your confidence levels.

Someone I know once told me, "Look good, feel good, play good" [SIC].  Couldn't be further from the truth.

If in doubt, keep this in mind:

GOOD LUCK!

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?