Recruiting for Hiring Managers Part 1

You would think that recruiting should be pretty straight forward.  You have an opening, people apply & you pick one.  Reality is much more complex, especially in today's market.

People are inundated with information from emails, social media and various other media.  Most tune out & your message is lost.  Additionally,  the world of hiring has changed.  Interviews are now more of a discussion and it is incumbent for a leader to clearly articulate what expectations that they have but also why someone that is successful should leave a company that they are doing well with.  What is your firm's unique value proposition?  What attracted you to the company?  What excites you today?  What growth opportunities to you see for the person that you are interviewing?  Be ready to discuss these things. 

Further, you should inquire about where they work.  Ask the same questions that I just noted.  Listen closely & be prepared to discuss how you may be able to better help them accomplish those things.  What things would they like to improve?  Don't accept that everything is fine.  Nothing is 100% satisfactory.  Maybe quiz about their last promotion, how their supervisor helps with difficult clients, how does their compensation package work?  These types of questions will help you to learn ways that you may demonstrate value that their current firm doesn't provide as well as gain market intelligence.  

Capitalism, Ingenuity, Benevolence, Opportunity

It is popular today to have feelings of jealousy &  rage toward many of our business leaders.  Undoubtedly there are some scoundrels as there have been throughout history.  Unfortunately many do not receive the deserved credit for their ingenuity, benevolence and the opportunities that they provide.  I don't know how Henry Kaiser was viewed in his day but he was certainly notable as a leader and visionary.  

From a humble beginning as the son of a shoemaker Henry founding his first company in 1914 at the age of 32.  His paving company was among the first to use heavy construction equipment.  The firm grew rapidly winning contracts to build roads & later was a prime contractor on the Hoover Dam as well as the Bonneville & Grand Coulee Dams.  He went on to build shipyards that were instrumental in building our naval fleet that was instrumental in WWII.  He companies were noted for the speed that they were able to build ships.  

In 1942 he opened Kaiser Richmond Field Hospital to provide care for injured workers in the shipyards.  The field hospital opened with 10 beds, later expanded to 160 (1944) and evolved to today's Kaiser Permanente which provides care for 12 million and employs over 300K.  It was the 1st voluntary group plan in the US to feature group medical practice, prepayment & substantial medical facilities on a large scale.  He went on to open automobile manufacturer Kaiser-Frazier which also owned the Jeep brand in the 50s & 60s before being sold in 1970.  

From humble beginnings Kaiser has positively impacted the lives of millions for generations for over 100 years.  When celebrating our Independence Day look at leaders like Kaiser to learn what anyone can achieve in the US.   

Jonas Salk, An American Hero

Heroes come from all backgrounds & aren"t necessarily war heroes.  In 1952 polio was a devastating disease affecting 60K American children, causing more than 21K cases of paralysis and killing more than 3K children.  As recently as 1980 there were 400K cases worldwide.  

A pioneer in the vaccine for polio was Jonas Salk.  Salk became director of the Virus Research Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh in 1947 receiving funding from the precursor to the March of Dimes to develop a vaccine for polio.  Contrary to prevailing scientific opinion at the time Salk believed that using a "killed" polio virus would immunize without the risk of infecting the patient.  He administered the vaccine to volunteers including himself, his lab scientists and his wife & children.  All developed anti-polio antibodies with no negative reaction.  National testing began on 1 million children in 1954 & the vaccine was found to be safe and effective.  The vaccine became widely available in 1956 & by 1962 the number of US cases dropped to 910.  By 2019 there were only 94 cases worldwide.  

Salk spent his last years researching a vaccine for AIDS passing on 6/23/95 at age 80.  His contributions have saved the lives & prevented paralysis of millions.  Dr. Salk is a true American Hero.  

Learn more about Dr. Salk at https://lnkd.in/gkS-bEe

 “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality."  Jonas Salk

The Value of Communications

When is the last time that you called clients that had declined a proposal that you made? When did you last call a past client that you haven't provided services for recently?

Before any company can provide consulting services those services must be sold. It is imperative that everyone that provides technical services works to expand the revenue of the company and that starts with business pursuits.

I encourage you to start today. Identify the last 10 proposals that you were involved with. Also identify 10 clients that your firm has not provided services for recently but has in the past. Develop a strategy to pursue each one. At worst you are told that your services are not needed at this time, but, you now have begun to strengthen that relationship. At best you may have a lead for a new project.

Don't send an email or text. Pick up the phone or go to visit. You will be glad that you did.

Celebrating Independence Day

In another few days we will be celebrating July 4.  For many of us it's a time for family, outdoor events & relaxation.  For millions in our armed services it will be a normal day, serving to protect the rest of us.  As we celebrate let's not forget to pray for their health, their families and their safety. 

Today we have many "heroes" that seem to be created by media and pop culture.  This week I intend to write about some of the lesser known heroes in our history beginning with Hugh Mercer.  

Mercer was a physician in Scotland prior to coming to America as a fugitive in 1746 during a struggle for power between opposing British factions.  By 1756 he was serving heroically alongside fellow colonel George Washington during the 7 Years' War.  During the early days of the Revolution he rose to brigadier general in the Continental Army leading a number of successful campaigns.  In early 1777 he lead a force of 350 soldiers against a much larger British force.  The struggle devolved to hand to hand combat and with little remaining weaponry Mercer lead a charge to rally his troops.  He died of his wounds but American Forces succeeded in driving the British from Princeton, NJ.  

To learn about Mercer and other American Heroes please see https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/hugh-mercer

Standing Still

"The trouble is, you think you have time."  Jack Kornfield

We all make choices,  with time, some good & some bad.  Today we hear about work/life balance.  I understand the concept & it is important to me as well  I look around in our now "Post Covid World" & think about many of the professionals that I speak with.  It seems work/life balance is the thing that most talk to me about when making career decisions & few are interested in learning about competitors.  I often wonder why professional curiosity is not more prevalent with regard to how other employers conduct their business, how a different firm my value their skills, and if another company may provide them with more flexibility, compensation, support, etc.  

The impact of a 10% increase in wages is staggering.  Consider an employee earning $135K obtaining a 10% raise.  That would be $13.5K or $1125 monthly.  That is substantial, even if you feel like you are living well today.   Additionally, if that money were invested monthly at 2.5% return you would have accumulated $153K in tax free earnings in a qualified savings plan for their education.  

Would that make an impact on the life of your children?  Don't let the time get away.  

Heroes and Angels Among Us

As we celebrate Father's Day it is a time to remember our Dads & the impact that they had on our lives.  My Dad has been gone for 30 years & I still struggle with grief at times.

We had a complicated relationship.  We were both independent (which he taught me to be) & stubborn.  As a young man I struggled with the reins that he kept on me.  Later, I learned that his Dad faced the same challenges.  What I remember most is that my Dad worked.  Most of my childhood he worked 2 full time jobs &I learned that same work ethic.   I didn't understand it growing up but it has served me well.  Most of our together time was spent doing work around the house.  Car repairs, painting, electrical work, building retaining walls and putting a new roof on were but a few of the things that we worked on together.  I heard "pay attention" more frequently than I heard "I love you" but I knew.  Learning how to do all of these things also gave me confidence that I could learn to do about anything.  That confidence helped me tremendously throughout my life. 

Dad wasn't one for talk.  I started my professional career in 1978 and progressed rapidly with my company.  He had an idea of what I did but only in the most general sense.  During a trip to visit us he found one of my business cards on the counter.  You see, I was a Vice President for the largest company in my industry and had yet to turn 30.  There were fewer than 30 people at my level and only 9 at higher levels in my company.  He finally told me that he was proud of me.  I never doubted it beforehand but it was great to hear.  

Shortly after my Dad passed.  He spent limited time with our daughter as she was born shortly before that and that I regret.  We often don't recognize the impacts that our parents have on our lives but they are truly heroes and angels.  I love you Dad!