Comments on: Recruiters, this is what competition in our industry really means

By: Scott Boren

Scott Boren — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:04:37 +0000

Like everyone else I agree completely. I always laugh when I read “recruiting software”. So there is an application that will recruit for you? Make phone calls? Develop relationships? Schedule meetings? Check references? When that happens we will all be in real trouble. Until then, we make this business run.

By: Brad Stewart - Talent Capital (NZ)

Brad Stewart - Talent Capital (NZ) — Wed, 19 May 2010 08:54:45 +0000

I’ll keep it brief… well written Greg, bang on the money as usual.

By: Fran Holm Hogan

Fran Holm Hogan — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:45:12 +0000

Thank you for this post. I have been in the business as a 3rd party recruiter since 1973 working for a franchised agency until the terrible recession of 1975….when I went out on my own. Obviously I have seen my share of business downturns. Although this one has been different and deeper than the others I have survived, the same predictions were made in each about the end of our industry.

We have survived this long because most of us provide a service that can’t be automated. We are dealing with the most important decisions people make in their lives.

Your line “screening, evaluating, persuading, assessing, negotiating, advising, consulting and acting, as an advocate for employers” really resonated with me. This service is understood and valued by our clients and they can’t replace it by just using LinkedIn or Twitter.

My business now bears no resemblance to the one I started back in 1975. I still provide the same service but the way I deliver it has changed along with the technology, economy and the times.

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By: Jerry Broitzman

Jerry Broitzman — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:57:15 +0000

This is an excellent set of articles. I am glad you said it out loud. Recruiting is much more than running through a check list. It is a profession, not a side-line activity. Show me someone who is being “taught” how to recruit, in addition to their 47 other responsibilities, and I will show you someone who is set up to fail.

By: Lee Cooper

Lee Cooper — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:58:13 +0000

Hi Greg fantastic article (once again). I agree entirely with ” Finding a job or recruiting a new staff member is not a commodity purchase.” What saddens me is that whilst this is absolutely true as an industry we have tried to commoditise hiring with a constant drive for volume and sales growth. It is only when we wake up to the fact that whilst people are our product (so many innapropriate conortations) in no one case is our product the same. Each individual we represent has a unique set combined skills, values, talents and aspirations. Until we recognise you cannot have a one size fits all approach to people then we will continue to struggle to evidence value to the customer as an industry. For those of use however that share your views this gives us a fantastic opportunity!

By: Mike Hard

Mike Hard — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:55:46 +0000

Greg

Well said. This may sound strange coming from a guy who runs a recruiting technology company, but technology doesn’t make great recruiting. At it’s best, technology can break down barriers, expose inefficiencies, and even stimulate more competition (sometimes painfully), but in the end technology only puts a greater spotlight on how recruiters are truly differentiating themselves.

Recruiters will struggle if they take either of two extremes – raging against technology and refusing to sense how the world is rapidly changing, or blindly accepting it in the expectation that just using LinkedIn or BountyJobs will “make you”.

Again, nice post and like previous commenter, I plan to forward your post to my team.

By: John Hunt

John Hunt — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:47:23 +0000

John Hunt says
I absolutely agree business is built on personal relationships that develop trust and understanding technology is a tool to make connections

By: Rod Hore

Rod Hore — Thu, 06 May 2010 04:20:53 +0000

Great article Greg. I’ll quote this in a presentation I’m preparing.