I think as recruiters we all have a responsibility to help out those we cannot place, even in some small way. Today Carter Toungette, one of the best and brightest in the Nashville recruiting scene, weighs in on the topic:
As a recruiter and staffing consultant, I am tasked with finding the very best talent for my client – it’s what I get paid to do. So, I meticulously go over resumes and question them about their background and quiz them on employment gaps and why they might have bounced around from job to job.
I want to make sure that I find the best candidate for my client because lets face it, my reputation is on the line with each submittal. But what about those candidates that just need a chance?
We all know who these people are. We see them at networking meetings or career counseling groups. Some of them might not be the best communicators or dress professionally. They have their resume posted on every database you can find with the word “Desperate” in the title. They look to us for help in soliciting their resume to our clients but nobody is willing to use their good name to submit this individual as an option.
The competition for talent is challenging enough, now I need to help this poor soul?
I have always been a believer in “paying it forward”, but I’ve never been the best in my follow through. When I first got into recruiting right out of college, it was for the opportunity to make good money. Several years later, the money is good, but the feeling of doing good work, is just as rewarding.
Over the years, several of these types of candidates have passed across my desk, each with their own set of problems. Unfortunately, there is not a magic eight ball for us to shake to give the answers, but we do have a responsibility to help.
The question still remains; how do we help the seemingly helpless. For some it could be a person to listen to them, or give guidance and encouragement. Some might need the dreaded suggestion of changing professions. Even a simple resume critique or constructive criticism regarding their conversation habits might be all they need.
It’s not always easy and there will most likely be those that either don’t want our help or take suggestions well. A professor I had in college used to say to us regarding our daily work, “do well, and do good”. It’s easy for us to only focus on the doing well part, we get paid for that, but let’s not forget to do good.
What are your thoughts? Agree, disagree, indifferent? How do you try to help those that are unplaceable in your specific practice?
To connect with Carter check out him out on LinkedIn(www.linkedin.com/in/cartertoungette).
Until next time – good hunting and good luck
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