No, We're Not Rocket Scientists....We're More Than That

I don't know if it's the onset of the holiday season, personal reflection, seeing my girls excited about the holidays or a number of other things but I am feeling sentimental today.  I am so thankful for many things this year.  I have truly been blessed.

I began thinking about these blessings last night as my oldest daughter left to attend her first High School Football championship game.  It reminded me of being young and thinking I could do anything if given a chance.  I recalled having a dream of becoming a doctor.  Someone who could truly make a difference in the lives of so many people.  As I am sure you know, I didn't quite go down that path.  Turns out I am terrible at Science and the sight of blood makes me ill.

What I have been left pondering is if I let my dream slip away entirely.  My whole reason for wanting to be in the medical field was to help people.  To feel like what I did helped others.  When I think about what I do everyday, I wonder if I make a difference.  If what my company does really makes a difference.

You'll be happy to know I do make a difference and so does my company.  In a very significant way actually.  From the outside people may see what I do and the what the company does as nothing more than providing technology solutions.  But honestly it's much more.

No, we're not rocket scientists and we're not doing something as noble as curing cancer.  But we are having a profound impact on people's lives.  Each year, we make it possible for over 4 million individuals to provide for their families financially.  We ensure they have accessibility to their money so they can provide the necessary means to survive and more.

We also assist hundreds of thousands of families make informed decisions on how to protect themselves and their families from the devastation of health issues.  We provide people with the education they need to effectively select the best risk mitigation solution(s) they need to protect their loved ones.

We engage people effectively in their respective organizations by providing visibility to future career opportunities.  We help people grow and develop professionally to be better at what they do.  We connect organizations with the unemployed to help them make a fresh start.  We help socialize them into organizations so they build solid relationships with others faster.  By doing all these things, we make these individuals better husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, siblings, etc.  They are more fulfilled professionally which is directly correlated to how they feel personally.

So, the next time you think those of us in the technology space aren’t making a difference, think again.  The next time you think you aren't making a difference, think again.  We all make an impact in some way.  You just have to look under the covers sometimes to find it.

Take a moment to say thank you to those who’ve made a difference in your life  Chances are, there are a lot of people who are thankful for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Are You A Hunter or A Farmer?

For those of you who live in the great state of Nebraska like me, you may answer this question with a resounding both.  For many others the response is a simple neither.  Maybe if I ask the question in a different manner it will elicit another response all together.  When thinking about the talent needs of your organization are you "farming" for people all the time or waiting for "the kill" when the opportunity arises?

We all have a responsibility to our respective organizations to be on the look out for great talent.  With the unemployment rate at a high and even higher when underemployment is factored in, it's more important than ever to become a "farmer".   There are so many opportunities each day to interact and network with our next superstars.  The challenge many of us face is that we don't have the right equipment to effectively farm. 

Think about it, if you were asked to go out and harvest your crops and then given a riding lawn mower you would laugh hysterically and refuse the job.  So why is it then, that we expect our recruiting teams to farm for candidates but don't give them the right equipment to do it effectively?  This is a question I have pondered for quite some time.

When did recruiting stop being about the engagement and connectivity with candidates and organizations and become so focused on the administration of the process?  I'll tell you my opinion of when it changed.  When organizations in the Talent Management industry created applicant tracking systems that will do everything short of wash your car.  Let's face it, even the name applicant "tracking" systems sets a tone for what recruiting has become.  We have done a disservice to our recruiters and increased the complexity of the process in many instances.

It is time for us to change the way we think about recruiting and get back to the basics.  We need to refocus our efforts on candidate engagement and socialization.  Stop using RFP's that have 250 different requirements of which 40% have no relevance to your process.   Instead, start thinking about all the things candidates, recruiters and hiring managers need to successfully engage with one another.

I know, it's not that simple right?  Why isn't?  When was the last time you took a good hard look at your ATS and your process and realized all the unused, yet paid for functionality included?  Maybe you have chosen not to go down that road because you're afraid of the results.   Maybe you are one of the lucky ones who effectively uses all the bells and whistles provided to you.   Or just maybe, it's time to rethink the equipment you use so you can be more efficient, effective and engaged with the talent you want in your organization.  I am sure your recruiters and hiring managers would appreciate it as would your candidates.