Sirona Says

Is this what you would find in a headhunters talent pool?

 

Picture credit - Terrie Yeatts

Today, the image says it all! I saw this image today while doing some research on talent pools!! Apologies if it too visual for some, but it certainly made me smile, with regards to the creativity and black humour!

 

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That's a bit harsh on recruitment consultants..........or is it?

Perception is a powerful word (you only have to look at the picture above to see that!) and for recruitment consultants it can be a bit of a problem!

Generically there are two types of readers of my blog - recruiters and non-recruiters (basically everyone that isn't in recruitment!) So it is going to be interesting to see your feedback to this post. You see this is one of those posts that you are going to find yourself agreeing with (to some extent), or disagreeing with (and probably start a stout verbal defence to anyone that will listen!)

Let me explain....

I have just finished a very good and insightful book called Cityboy by Geraint Anderson. In it he charts his rise through the ranks of the city trading rooms and his experiences in doing so. During this process he has cause to have involvement with recruitment consultants (or headhunters as he refers to them in the book). Below is his perception of them (in his words not mine, I might add here all you Manchester United fans!!)

"Headhunters make traffic wardens, estate agents and even Manchester United supporters seem relatively acceptable human beings. They are essentially parasites living in the bloated stomach of capitalism.
I know that they are just doing a job, but it is the way they are doing it that offends my sensibilities. Just like football agents who have a self interest in promoting as many transfers as possible, headhunters will tell you whatever lies are required to encourage you to switch jobs.
You may think that estate agents getting 2% of the value of your house just for finding a buyer is a complete p*ss-take, but headhunters often receive between 30 and 40% of a new recruit's first year's compensation. When you're dealing with city types who are sometimes earning seven figure salaries that can be discussed in huge amounts of money for essentially doing bugger all.

I've also noticed that these spongers often ring up to get your details just so they can pretend to be involved in a specific job placement even if they have diddly squat to do with it. If you then do switch jobs independently , a headhunter who was got your details can sometimes try and get some blood money by claiming involvement."

So as I said at the beginning of the post, his perception has had a strong bearing on his experience - because although he does go on to use a headhunter to find a job, he treats them with contempt and disrespect - which is obviously not the way that a candidate / consultant relationship should be!

Now I am sure you will have heard some of these 'phrases' describing recruitment consultants before - a liking to estate agents and second hand car sales people are usually the most obvious, but has Geraint got it right?

Is he being a bit harsh? Is this people's perception of recruitment consultants?

Could this approach to passive candidates work?

Headhunting / executive search / passive candidate attraction have all been around for ages, and there doesn't seem to be much innovation in the sector. So while reading an article by Kevin Nale, one of his points intrigued me. He advocates creating a short professional introduction video, personalised to the target candidate you are trying to 'hook'. In other words, a simple personal request for a coffee or lunch meeting to discuss the opportunity face to face.

I think the idea is good, and certainly inventive as some of these candidates are elusive to say the least! As Kevin says, 'if your pipeline is diminishing, just remember it is not you, it's how you are presenting the great opportunity'. My only problem with this is the logistics of this idea, the numbers needed, and how you deliver this video file so that the target candidate watches it.

One thing for sure though, is that they will really appreciate the time you have taken to record a video specially for them, won't they?

Do you know anyone who has tried this method?

Big fat retainers - the new insurance policy?

Everyone has heard the phrase, 'your reputation precedes you', but what if clients engaged you with large retainers for work they hope you won't do? What a nice job to have! Well a lady in the news currently is the top lawyer Fiona Shackleton, who recently defended Sir Paul McCartney against the viper tongued Heather Mills.

Her reputation does go before her and with a successful track record of winning high profile divorce cases (including two royal ones), she has found herself in an enviable position. A number of the worlds super-rich men actually retain Fiona's services (with huge retainers no doubt!) long before their marriage is even in trouble!!! Why, I hear you ask?  Simple really - it is their form of contingency insurance. It is aimed at stopping their wives using the formidable services of Fiona Shackleton, should the worst happen and they divorce!!

So before she is even needed, she has the pleasure of raising large invoices for work that may never happen!!  Is that a display of great business sense from these well-'healed men' or just extreme paranoia?