Hi, Recruiters,
What is recruitment? It sounds like a basic question, but it's one that I've been thinking about lately.
Ask Google, and upon viewing the top-ranked articles, you'll get vanilla definitions like the below:
"Recruitment is a medium-term focused, linear, and reactive approach to finding the best fit for an existing job from a large pool of suitable candidates."
Or
"Recruitment is the process of finding, screening, hiring, and onboarding qualified job candidates."
Okay, sure. What if we ask, 'What is a recruiter'? Here's what a quick search will find:
"An individual responsible for closing open positions in an organization through recruitment skills and tools"
"A person who persuades people to work for a company or become new members of an organization."
"A person who's job it is to find new people to join a company."
If you ask your neighbor's second cousin once removed who e-mails out of the blue for help, you might think a recruiter is someone who can help hack their resume to get them a job.
Yeah… none of these work for me. They all miss the most wonderful and fulfilling aspects of the profession (besides pay)—namely, the human element involved in every step taken with another person in making a real, positive change in their life.
If that sounds cheesy to you, well, maybe you're here for a reason.
After scanning a few dozen more results for recruiting definitions in the wild (this time, LinkedIn posts that also took pride in cold, technical descriptions), I finally came across one that hits the spot, from Benjamin Mena:
Recruitment is not just about being a strategic business partner, filling positions, or finding candidates. It's about creating meaningful relationships and making a tangible difference in someone's life. That's why I love what I do. It's not a job—it's a calling.
Can I get an amen?!
Lifesaving Potential
If asked to describe what a wide receiver for the NFL is, would you say "A person whose job it is to analyze inbound pass trajectories, secure possession of the football, and advance to the opponent's end zone"?
At first thought, you might think, "Yeah, that sounds about right." But, I imagine if you asked for the football coach's definition, they'd say something like, "It's their job to catch the ball, run as fast as they can, and score a touchdown."
That says a lot more about the human experience of being a wide receiver and the potential impact of the role, in my opinion.
My point is this: How you think about the profession of recruiting influences how you approach it.
Although we receive the occasional flack, recruiters are a powerful force for good and can (and often do) make a huge difference in people's lives. No amount of market volatility should have us lose sight of that.
Outside of careers with inherent life-saving potential (healthcare workers, first responders, air traffic controllers, therapists), there are not many jobs that compare.
I wonder, how would 'Coach' describe recruiting? Maybe something like, "A person who reaches out to talent, digs deep to create a connection, and helps the right person for a job take a step that could create great change for them and/or their family."
Much better. Thanks, Imaginary Coach.
Human Stories
The truth is, many of you are already on the same page, and can better describe recruiting and its potential—and demonstrate its power—than I can.
What does it sound like when recruiters out there talk about things in real, human terms?
Because I love creepin' on what other people in the industry are saying, here are a few of my favorite anecdotes that I've come across as of late:
TA strategist Scott M. in a recent article aptly describes the bottom-line value we bring to the hiring process:
"The most forward-thinking organizations are shifting their focus towards a more holistic understanding of what candidates bring to the table: their resilience, passion, and the unique experiences that have shaped them. This approach is not just about filling a position; it's about investing in human potential and building dynamic, innovative teams capable of navigating the complexities of business today.
Finance and accounting recruiter Jami Davenport shares a brilliant perspective on creating change:
"My role as a recruiter in Finance & Accounting is a catalyst for change. This change is not only in your job. It is a life change. And it is scary. Which is why, as a recruiter for the last 20 years, I have walked alongside many as they look at options and determine if it truly is time to take that step."
And, talent management lead Kareena Malhotra has shared this very human success story:
"I had to hire a hard-to-fill role in a function I was not familiar with. The business had also enlisted a number of agencies to help fill the position; it was that difficult. In fact, the role ended up remaining open for more than 200 days - an extremely long period of time considering our usual recruitment cycle.
One of the candidates I sought from LinkedIn was shortlisted, but I discovered they were unlikely to be considered for the role. Having a good rapport with the hiring manager allowed me to convince them to interview this candidate - and they are working with us today.
This is close to my heart, because when no one was able to fill the role I believed in my own judgment and was able to see it through. You get a really great sense of achievement with something like this - especially when there are external vendors also working on the role."
The thread tying all of these examples together is the human element that these folks are bringing into their practice.
Emphasizing the importance of investing in human potential to build great teams, reckoning with how scary a career change can feel, leveraging relationships with hiring managers, and having the self-confidence to go to bat for a candidate you know is a great fit…
Yeah, that is what recruiting really is. And, I think we all should talk about this more.
Emotional Connection
While it's important to share recruiting war stories so you get a sense of where the landmines are, I'm more interested in sharing star stories, where uncommon talent meets uncommon opportunity, or where tough issues were overcome by taking a step into a new future.
There's a reason great educators are great storytellers. When you want to teach someone about a thing, a story provides an emotional connection to latch onto—to help you understand what is relevant to the human experience about the subject.
I know anyone who's been in recruiting for long has plenty of stories to tell. I'd rather it be those stories that define the profession.
Please feel free to share.
What else is happening in hiring?
Aaron's Corner
Aaron Ibañez here! I'm not a recruiter, but I can recall every recruiter I've worked with and every hiring process I've been a part of. Only some are for good reasons! I'm glad there are communities like this where those human experiences are valued and encouraged by recruitment veterans and leaders. It really is a breath of fresh air for job seekers who may already feel demoralized by the too often transactional nature of hiring.
Speaking of recruitment leaders, High-Performance Recruiter Trent Cotton is featured in two new speakEZ videos just released today! He covers features and benefits of hireEZ from the recruiter AND leadership point of view.
