Keep up with
everything learning
-- Read time:
Hi, Recruiters,
Last week, I had the rare chance to be in Vegas, and not for a recruiting conference, mind you—talk about luck. The very essence of luck has been gnawing at my thoughts. To start, I was lucky enough to escape for the weekend to catch the Dead & Company show at the Sphere. Vegas, my friends, is a city that bathes in the allure of luck or at least wants you to sip that heady brew.
From the ritualistic blowing of dice to chasing those elusive lucky sevens and stubbornly clutching onto a slot machine like it's a life raft, we're all trying to bend luck to our whims.
Before I continue, here are a few shots for any Dead Heads out there:
Okay, back to talking about luck.
It's intriguing, isn't it? This notion that some unseen, mystical force is pulling the strings of our fortunes is downright liberating. It's a convenient scapegoat when the chips are down or when we strike gold.
Take this morning, for instance. I found myself pondering, why does the mere thought of gambling set my nerves on edge? Betting on a sports outcome? Sure, bring it on. But, sitting at a blackjack table, heart racing, sweating over each card flip? Not a chance. I've learned that lesson.
Perhaps that's the true power of luck—it gives us the choice to decide when to claim accountability for our successes or chalk them up to sheer chance. But, how do we make that choice?
I think it's mostly a matter of recognizing our own tenacity—or the lack thereof. When you give something your all and succeed, confirmation bias wraps around you like a warm blanket, whispering affirmations of your greatness. On the other hand, when we put in minimal effort and still hit the jackpot, we tend to chalk it up to luck, patting ourselves on the back for the fortuitous turn of events.
In recruiting, or any profession for that matter, I believe tenacity is an undervalued trait that can significantly boost our odds of 'getting lucky.' It's the grit, the relentless pursuit of excellence, that turns a simple roll of the dice into a calculated stride toward success. Luck, after all, favors the persistent.
Roman philosopher Seneca coined the popular phrase, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Recruitment isn't based on luck, but it can definitely feel that way at times. Take those moments when a needle-in-a-haystack candidate for a niche role seems to materialize out of thin air. It might seem like sheer serendipity, but being in the right place at the right time is more about consistent effort and strategic behavior than random chance.
It's easy to overlook the myriad of decisions and hard work that lead to those seemingly “lucky” moments. The late-night hours spent networking, the countless calls and emails, the persistent follow-ups—these are the threads that weave the fabric of success. And let's be honest, the people around us often forget about these painstaking efforts, too.
In reality, those rewarding outcomes are not strokes of luck but the culmination of dedication and tenacity. So, while it might feel like magic when that perfect candidate appears, remember that it's your unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit that truly make the magic happen.
It reminds me of the adage that goes something like “It takes 20 years to make an overnight success.” The truth is our profession is dogged by some pretty large areas of uncertainty, where there are powerful forces we cannot control or influence.
If you find yourself feeling unlucky, or if it seems like others around you are always rolling double-sixes, try to remember that you're probably just seeing their 100th attempt after 99 setbacks. The truth is, everyone's journey is filled with unseen struggles and quiet defeats. The good news? Most people, including yourself, tend to overlook the failures and focus on the victories.
The more you win, the more you'll find yourself in a winning mindset. Success builds on success, and each small win paves the way for the next.
In fact, research has shown that we're literally hard-wired to repeat behaviors that lead to successful outcomes. But, to collect enough dopamine hits to make us feel especially lucky, we have to be out there playing the game. Golf legend Gary Player once said, “The more I practice, the luckier I get.” It's scientifically proven.
Let's look at three areas of uncertainty, chance, or change, each of which plays an outsized role in recruiting success.
Timing is a big one. Sometimes, the perfect candidate just isn't ready to leave their current job. There are moments when the hiring budget is suddenly dropped or frozen, putting the role on indefinite hold. You might miss your chance to secure the ideal hire, only to see them vanish to a competitor or into the ether. And, then there are those times when a major shift in market dynamics unexpectedly opens new doors. I've talked about this before, but we're on the brink of a fascinating timing situation: the talent wars that will ignite as non-compete agreements begin to sunset. Timing is such a pivotal player in the recruitment game.
Or, take referrals. You know, those chance meetings or unexpected connections that never appeared in your CRM or ATS but became the best, easiest hire you could possibly make. Is who you know — your networks of peers, colleagues, past work relationships, communities — a matter of luck? Maybe a little. But, having people who are willing to help you succeed is a matter of creating and nurturing positive relationships. Your success is correlated with the time and effort that you invest in them.
The same applies to employer brand or talent attraction strategies. As convenient as it may be to think, there's a lot more than luck going into the success of that competitor who you keep losing talent to. There's something about their approach that is worth deconstructing to understand what they are doing and what you are not.
There's a reason many athletes are superstitious. When playing for the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan would wear his shorts from his college days at the University of North Carolina under his Bulls uniform, as he believed they brought him good luck.
Whether you believe an old pair of shorts can steer fate is your own business. I see MJ's practice as a way to ensure that he is doing every little thing possible to get ahead of the rival team. That mentality influences every other decision leading up to a big game.
Being successful in recruiting is a matter of tenacity and how it translates to the experience, diligence, discipline, resilience, and desire that create results.
Recruiting may be a path strewn with failures, including bad days when you feel that surely there must be a thing called luck, and you just haven't got any. But, the truth is, you make your own.
Good luck to you.
Attend the Bay Area Recruiter Network Luncheon on June 19
Bay Area recruiters, you're in luck! The Bay Area Recruiter's Network (B.A.R.N.) is meeting up for a networking luncheon next week that you don't want to miss. Build community with the TA professionals in your area. It's so important.
A little bit about B.A.R.N.:
Bay Area Recruiter's Network (B.A.R.N) was founded by industry veterans Ann Keady and Kim Warner in January of 2024 to create a dynamic networking group and community for Talent Acquisition (TA) professionals of all levels in the San Francisco Bay Area.
B.A.R.N. was established to help facilitate the exchange of job leads, best practices, industry trends, and cutting-edge recruiting technologies. Stay ahead in talent acquisition by learning from industry experts who share innovative recruitment strategies and effective interview techniques, ensuring you remain informed about industry best practices.
Aaron Ibañez here! Lots of exciting stuff happening. There's the upcoming B.A.R.N. Luncheon Shannon mentioned--be there or be square, Bay Area recruiters!
There's also the Atlanta Recruiter Community meetup happening today, with guest speaker Shannon Pritchett. The event is free if you can make it--I heard there's going to be pizza🍕🍕🍕
Read more here
Plus, we just published an exciting new blog about the habits of effective recruiters, with quotes and insights from real experts in our community. Check it out here, and pass it on to share the wisdom with your network. 💡 If there's one thing I've learned about this community, it's that the learning never stops!
By filling out this form you agree to hireEZ's Privacy Policy and consent to receive communications from hireEZ.
