Can you remember back to a time when you were playing a board game (let’s say Monopoly) and out of nowhere your opposing player tossed the board? Perhaps you had just landed on Boardwalk and your golden real estate buying opportunity was presented. The other party, so competitive and eager to win, would suddenly lose all “normal” logic and ruin the game to save from being defeated.
The thought of this scenario just baffles me!
I’m not saying that we have to be all Mr. Rogers-esque with the world and hold hands as we peacefully frolic through the land of “all is fair.” HOWEVER, there is definitely something to be said about acceptance and reasonable action.
“Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca
The other day I witnessed a situation in which a recruiter received the dreaded “I’ve gone with another company” call. Having been there myself, I could immediately relate to the deflated spirit I was seeing evolve as the call came to a close. That feeling, above almost any other, has a very real and lasting impact on a recruiter – especially if they believe in what they do!
Nothing is ever just business to the competitive heart. The internal spirit which drives us to excel is, in most cases, a very personal attribute which quite often extends to every aspect of our lives.
Losing that perfect candidate, being out-recruited by the competition OR, heaven forbid, having a counter-offer accepted, can really mess up a day! In all too many cases, it can mess up your groove for a week, a month or even more.
Take back your recruiting mojo!
You do it for a reason!
You recruit because you like people, or perhaps you love the competitive nature of our business. Some of us do it because we want to help others – we aspire to open doors and create opportunities. Some have a real passion about their companies and love the role of brand crusader! “Come work with us! We have a great culture… you’ll love it here!”
It doesn’t matter why you recruit… not getting what you want, when you want it, how you want it, always stings!
So, take back control of your spirit and recognize that in times like these you have both the biggest opportunity and run the biggest risk.
5 Reasons to keep your head straight in a tough recruiting situation
- Employment Brand – Remind yourself that others make decisions based on their current circumstances (or their perceptions of those circumstances). Be as consistent in hard times as you are in the good ones. In the end, your employment brand and the candidate’s impression of your company only improves.
- Referrals - Every candidate you interact with becomes a brand ambassador. If hiring the person isn’t going to work out, you should always keep in mind that they may know someone who will (now or in the future!).
- Turnover – Ultimately, it’s for the better if a candidate declines your offer up front. How much worse would it be if they come on board, get trained and then decide to go with the competition.
- Sanity – Your “Groove” – if you take it too hard, you may just send yourself into a downward spiral… that wouldn’t be very productive!
- Self-Worth – If you believe in what you have to offer and the integrity of your approach, one candidate (be them outstanding) should not be able to alter that belief. Just remember this.
Just keep recruiting, just keep recruiting
“There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that lost by not trying” – Francis Bacon
You win some, you lose some. In the end, we are only left with how we conducted ourselves in the process. Will we mess up along the way? Of course. Can we improve through experience? Of course.
Just keep recruiting!
How do you keep your head on straight when faced with disappointment or irrational behavior? What’s the secret?
Photo Credit, therichbrooks
Popularity: 3% [?]
Pingback: HR Carnival of Global Giving is now open!