A Blog By Any Other Name

The hardest thing about keeping a blog is finding ample time to keep it updated. Today I made an interesting observation about BLOGS - in a love/hate kind of fashion.

1. Blogs are great tools for people with Attention Deficit Disorder. There is a long list of people that are glad that I have blogs - the person in the office next to me, the occasional elevator passenger (that I don't know but talk to on a regular basis), my supervisor, my supervisor's supervisor, my next door neighbor (on the north side - as I don't talk to the people on the south side). With the blog to spew out my commentary, many of the above mentioned people have had a more peaceful existence.
   
   2. Blogs are terrible for people with Attention Deficit Disorder. For all of the times that I could start an entry I lose the ability to complete a balanced and pleasant entry. The effort that it takes to add a picture or change formatting in addition to "Mr. Mullay's Ten Rules of Writing A Good Paper " sticking in my head since college. It can stress you out. This has bummed me out.
   
   

Honestly, I am often inspired and usually tired.
I should probably take a tip from Amandicon http://www.yupsicle.typepad.com/. She's got this whole blog thing down to a great science. I can be at the end of my last nerve and then wander off to Ms. A's blog and before you know it - Bang: milk shooting out my nose! You wouldn't think that a summary of a trip to the Farmer's Market or an observation of the Hamburger Helper's Helping hand having only four fingers would be that interesting - but she does it. In fact, she does it in a sort of Tina Fey crossed with Stephen Colbert way.

A blog should be like a favorite TV show. The kind of thing that you know is on at a specific time and you want to tune-in to see the next episode. The kind of thing that you can catch up on by watching re-runs and then talk your friends into seeing so they can get hooked. The kind of thing that motivates Target to start a line of clothing and plastic cups and dishes with.

With all of the blogging going on across the world today, I figure there must be 4, 345, 301 new entries today (mine put it just over that 300). I would be willing to bet that there are only 22 of them worth reading.

There; I posted an entry - now back to building the perfect web domain.

p.s. (or PowerPoint Ms. A)

Finally Ever After Ending

April 2 - The day that Ms. Grutter starts work. It brings me more joy than most people get in their jobs; the chance to meet someone in public, provide a window of opportunity and then see them move forward.

Sometimes it takes half a year. Sometimes it takes a year and sometimes it takes FIVE years. I often think about one of my successful hires and how it took five years (and him moving to a competitor in the process) before finally hitting the right offer. He recently has been promoted to run a regional Health care Division with expanding opportunity and income.

POINT ONE: It takes time and patience - the stars must align.
REMEMBER: Don't lose track of the good ones.

POINT TWO: It has to be the right opportunity.
REMEMBER: Long Term Retention and Job Satisfaction come from a fit that is congruent to the values, goals and mission of the candidate.

I've been at this a while now (16 years) and there has never been a prospect that I couldn't eventually match to an opportunity. It wasn't always a match to the company I was recruiting for. There have been those "Pay It Forward" moments that still bring me this kind of job satisfaction. In fact, it happened just last week:

I was leaving a business meeting when I heard my name called out. I was greeted by a man with a huge smile on his face (as if he had been searching the building for me all morning). He said "I don't know if you remember me, but three years ago I was looking for a job and you helped me enormously". "Up to that point in my life I had never been required to take a job interview as I had only worked for one company". Then he stated, "you helped me connect with the right people and gave me some great advice which landed me this job and I couldn't be happier; thank you".

My three year investment had just paid me more than any 401k or IRA could have returned. You could have hit me with a baseball bat and it still would have been one of the best days I have experienced all month!

Recruiting holds some great surprises. Sometimes you never know the role you will play in helping someone find their Happy Ever After.

- T.B.

P.S. I am told by a number of people that I must have caught Rosie's on an "off day". In all Blog Fairness I think I will return to Greenville and try the food again. Who knows, maybe Ashley's replacement could make a good recruit!

copyright: 2007 Human Dimensions of Michigan

Recruiting Comes Full Circle

The ballad of Ashley Grutter Continues

I receieved an e-mail from one of my collegues stating: "Ashley Grutter has you listed as a referral source, do you want to interview her?". I was just getting over the whole Nashville Star let-down and to tell you the truth I needed a little good news.

One week later, Ashley Grutter herself is sitting in our conference room and completing an official interview with me. It was great to hear why she hadn't continued on past the Finals for NS, and to be honest with you: "Their Loss is My Win!"

Turns out that this candidate is fantastic. She presents herself professionally, has a good head on her shoulders and is smarter than most College Graduates walking in the door. The best is yet to come as I plan on finding a spot for this talent (multi-talent) whose recruiting circle started on a sunny afternoon in Greenville, Michigan working at the home of the "Quicker Picker-Uper".

Oh, yeah; don't miss Ashley at a venue near you - http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=34966544

A Country Music Crime

Here is what Ashley posted on her website.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Just a note
As a regional finalist, we are not supposed to say one way or another whether or not we made it on the show until finalists are announced by the network. I hope everyone understands my silence. Thanks. I wish everyone the best of luck! -Ashley

________________________________________________________________

Well, it really is a crime that Ashley didn't make it to the Show!! America's Loss.
Make sure to catch her live whenever you get a chance.

...and I think I will send her my card again (just in case she starts looking for a day job)

I Should Have Given Future "Nashville Star" A Bigger Tip

As you know, my constant Recruiting Mode is always on the look out for a Great Future Hire. About a month ago I visited "Rosie's Diner" for the first time. I can't say the food is that great; But the service is!

Our Waitress had "spark" and "warmth" and a smile bigger than Sand Lake. At the end of the meal I wind up the Recruiter Five questions and find out that she is Graduating in December from Ferris State. I was pretty proud of myself by the time I had written down my e-mail address and office phone (as my wife quipped: "This is the only time I let him give other women his phone number").

My biggest surprise was yet to come. The Mega Memory Method came in handy as I remembered the young lady's name: Ashley Grutter ("like gutter with an r" she stated)

Y'all need to remember that name too, as Ashley is on her way to stardom. Not as a future hire of mine, but as a Country Writer and Singer. And I'm here to tell you, she's got the pipes! You've got to visit her website ashleygrutter.com. and listen to her fabulous writing and quality voice. Then tune in and cheer on one of Michigan's own as she runs for the prize.

I'm not going to be waiting for her resume anymore - but I will enjoy her beautiful music.

Employment and 9/11

Today marks Five Years since the United States was attacked both Physically and Emotionally. While the Media outlets take the opportunity to reflect on how it changed our nation, I would like to share a thought on how it changed the employment scene for the entire country.

There are some significant changes on my mind today.

1. In November of 2001, just 60 days after the event, an employment professional working for a national technology company had the first month in his twelve years of recruiting without a placement.

2. National companies began to tighten the employment screening process, in many cases re-defining their policies and procedures.

3. Professionals who had worked in their chosen field began to examine their motives for "why" they work. Many of them making career changing decisions.

Now, five years later the technology corridor has started to open up again and the opportunities and demand for technology-based employees has increased. The above-mentioned employment professional ended up leaving the national firm that he was with and opened his own placement company. He now employs a staff of six and has created a strong income for his family. More significantly he has printed his company mission statement on his business cards, which reads, "Bringing experienced professionals together with exceptional organizations, while honoring God."

So today I reflect on an industry that now requires:

Employment professionals to be Flexible and Pro-active

Employers who are more attentive to their employee's needs

An American workforce that should be focused on not just what they do, but why they do it.

Let's all use our hearts today in everything that we do.