Recruiter Chicks

I am starting a new series of posts that I will write on from time to time, that will focus on skills and concepts that I think are the difference makers that define great recruiters.  Sourcing, how we discover and identify potential candidates, is one of those difference makers.  While a whole profession of specialists were born to tackle the challenge of and mystery surrounding the art of data and deep candidate research and identification — the ability to learn these skills as a Recruiter, on any level, is a differentiator for those of us dedicated to finding talent for our companies or clients.

Pic via SourceCon.com and Lance Haun

I find it interesting how many Recruiters and Recruiting Leaders misunderstand, discount, or just plain avoid developing or adding these skills/tools to their “toolboxes” or their teams.  It is tough to write a post on what level of sourcing any Recruiter can and should be doing – or how a Recruiting Leader, should incorporate this function — or this skillset — into their teams.  So much depends on time, budgets, structure, workloads, resources, talent pool, process, etc.  What you can do is educate yourself and then make that determination of what and how to incorporate sourcing into your own process or teams.  You can start by reading (SourceCon – the site or one of the several outstanding sourcing related blogs, such as my personal favorite Boolean Black Belt by Glen Cathey), hiring a Consultant (*smile*), or attending SourceCon – the conference.

The sourcing talent community comes together once again next week in Atlanta, where it all began — for the conference that has come to represent this incredible community of talent — SourceCon Atlanta February 7-8, 2013.  To understand more, I strongly encourage you to read my post, Examining Talent Communities…SourceCon, as well as SourceCon: The Ultimate Talent Community, by my amazing friend and Recruiting Toolbox colleague, Carmen Hudson.  SourceCon, brought to life by the brilliant Leslie O’Connor in 2007, purchased by ERE Media in 2009, is the premier, must-go-to event dedicated to the art and science of recruitment sourcing.

Pic via booleanblackbelt.com

One little gem I will share with all of you is that usually late in the evening after the first day of the conference has ended, there is a bit of a source-a-thon, a show-and-tell if you please, of tactical, hands-on, let’s-get-real exchange of ideas, tips, and sharing that happens called SourceCon After Dark.  This brain child of my dear friend (and genius) Eric Jaquith was meant to be a time to extend the learning beyond the conference and actually put each others ideas, experiences, and things learned into practice — on actual searches people had or brought to the event.  #SourceConAD is free and open to attendees or any Recruiters/Sourcers that are local and just want to participate.  Bringing your laptops and challenging searches makes the event PRICELESS!  Even if you are just open for some great networking, food and bar specials — consider registering for the event in Atlanta ASAP that I, in conjunction with Eric Jaquith and Ronnie Bratcher, will be hosting the evening of Thursday, Febuary 7th at Park Bar, in downtown Atlanta from 9pm =>

While I am giving props and shout outs, let me just take a moment to talk about Park Bar Atlanta…many of you already know that Park Bar and their sister facility, Sidebar, are my go to venues for any after-parties I host after events going on downtown.  Park Bar has great food, craft beers, and an awesome collection of fine bourbons (even Pappy Van Winkle’s *smile*).  We will have appetizers, but go early and have your dinner there too!!  You will not be sorry!

Bottom line if you want to master Recruiting – if you really want to be the best, different from the rest, and really last in this industry as the world changes, you should learn more about the art and science behind Sourcing.  Talent communities, like Sourcing, are nothing without the contributions of the people who make up that community.  You may know of some of this profession’s visionaries, but there are countless others who also contribute.  As I said before, educate yourself…attend events like these to help you learn and incorporate what you can.  Think about contributing the things you find and how you apply them.  And to that end, if you don’t know SourceCon’s wonderful Editor, Lance Haun, make sure he is at the top of your list to meet if you do attend one or both events next week!

Side note:  For those of you looking for a breakfast or brunch option during your Atlanta stay, hit up Babs in Midtown for the best coffee and food EVAH — tell Randy, Havrilla sent you

The Recruiter Chicks had the pleasure of attending the HR Technology Conference last week in Chicago.  It is truly a great conference chock-full of the best and brightest in the HR & Recruiting space as well as fun tools, trinkets, and loads of HR tech service provider folk – duh!

I was asked more than once why I was attending this technology centered conference.  I found it rude for people to continuously ask me this question.  For Pete’s sake, I work for an organization that uses technology to fuel the engine…just like you.  I enjoyed the conference more because it was not the run of the mill recruiting focused conference and I was not running with my typical recruiter crew.  I threw myself into the world of technology savvy, code writing, software, platform and suite carrying ninjas – people like the other half of Recruiter Chicks – Chris Havrilla.

My key highlights from the show:

1.  It’s all about the people PEOPLE! 

My recruiting friend and fellow member of the #ATLDelegation, Eric Jaquith has always told me that conferences are about networking.  Well, HR Tech was no disappointment.  There were so many HR professionals who were ready to meet, greet, connect, learn and share in one location and over a three day period.  There was a crowd of about  4,000 in attendance.

2. Shiny Objects

I wish I had an aerial view picture of the Expo Hall at the Conference.  It would seriously look like Willy Wonka designed and built a conference expo hall.  There were all sorts of goodies, pictures, t-shirts, iPhone cases, candy, games and human targets luring you to their booths.  The companies that were represented spanned from Interviewing software, Social Engagement platforms, Performance Management suites, Mobile Recruiting platforms and Reference Check technology tools.  This Expo Hall was a great place for those that are looking to upgrade/change, just upgraded/changed or will upgrade/change a system or component thereof.  It was interesting and disturbing to see HR pros acting like grown kids who happen to have budgets around these shiny objects.

3.  Limos 

Who knew the best way to get to know others at this conference and Very Important People (by the way) is to take a ride in a killer stretch Cadillac Escalade limo?  Seriously.  This limo was packed with Who’s Who in HR and many recipients of the Candidate Experience Award that were awarded during the conference.  Big thanks to Monster.com for the opportunity to speed network and get close and cozy with a few industry leaders and frankly those that lead by example when it comes to Candidate Experience.  It was great for speed networking, celebrating and party hopping!

4.  Parties

There’s 3-4 dinners/parties a night during this wonderful conference and this is when the real playas play!  Many lifelong connections and business deals begin at these dinners/parties whether you’re bonding while eating beets on a stick, listening to Gangnam Style and attempting the dance or watching your friends blow the roof off the joint singing karaoke to “Ice Ice Baby.”

Overall, this was another solid conference experience.  I would be remiss not to mention the sessions, one in particular blew my mind away.  It was the ‘Marsh Transforms itself with Social Technology’ session delivered by Laurie Ledford and Ben Brooks of Marsh & McLellan.  They delivered this session from the 100,000 foot view and shared how social impacted their overall business, not just HR or Recruiting.  If you haven’t already, take the time to learn about their business and how they completely transformed their culture in a way that is rewarding both intrinsically and extrinsically.

I am often asked why I’m involved in SHRM-Atlanta and how I find the time to balance family, work and community involvement.  My answer: It’s easy when you have a strong commitment to the community and your own professional growth.  I grew up watching my Mom advise a business fraternity and earn the title of Person of the Year from the Nashville Chamber of Commerce for her countless contributions to the community.  She always talked about how those contributions and the community involvement benefited the community but also helped her grow professionally.

I am writing this post in hopes that more people will take charge of their career and professional growth through involvement in the community.

I work for an amazing executive search firm and I love my job!  After being with the firm for a little over three years, I needed to grow professionally so I started taking on more at work but I still had a desire to give back to the community in a more substantial way.  About five years ago, I initiated meetings with two prominent HR leaders in Atlanta to let them know of my desire to step it up and take on a more significant volunteer leadership role within SHRM-Atlanta for professional growth.  I was looking to supplement the professional development at work and step outside of my comfort zone by stepping up the level at which I was contributing to the HR community.  Our firm’s founder, Tom Darrow frequently speaks to job seekers and one key takeaway is around owning your own career growth and development by investing in yourself.  The world of work has changed and YOU are in charge of YOUR career growth.

Through involvement and countless hours of personal time, I have had the opportunity to lead meaningful initiatives and projects, the most significant of which was co-leading 800 volunteers at the 2012 SHRM Annual Conference.  It was one of the most gratifying, fulfilling, demanding, exhausting, exhilarating, fun and exciting initiatives that I had the privilege of being a part of.  It was a two year volunteer commitment and a way to give back in a grand way with the support of my company.  Most professionals working in small to mid-size organizations would never have this opportunity to stretch themselves in such a significant and visible way.  And that folks is what it’s all about!

The one two punch of a busy and awesome job coupled with volunteer leadership in SHRM-Atlanta have been professionally electrifying.  Thus helping me be a more balanced person to my family, co-workers, colleagues and friends.  I challenge you to take charge of YOUR career growth.  The moment you start taking charge of your own professional growth and development will be the start of some abundantly fulfilling moments in your life.