|
The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process
Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events. For our purposes, the interview process is a "development of events". Creating and maintaining momentum throughout the interview process is critical to attracting and securing top candidates in today's competitive market. Momentum or "The Big Mo'" as I frequently call it is a term widely used by sportscasters to describe the modification of energy between two parties to in a sporting event or game. As a recruiter, we see both sides of the hiring process. Rather than have momentum shift from one participant to the other, we seek to have momentum or positive energy shared and exchanged by the participants, moving in unison with each other towards a common goal. In the initial stages of the recruitment process, the responsibility for initiating momentum lies with the client employer. Once a candidate has been approached about the client employer's opportunity and expressed interest in pursuing a discussion, the client employer must be very cognizant of moving the process forward in a very timely manner. Our suggested timeframe, bearing in mind that professionals have very busy schedules, is to schedule the first in-depth conversation within 48 hours of candidates' expression of interest. This first conversation should be used by both the client employer and the candidate as an exploration of the needs and exchange of "technical" information about the opportunity and candidate's respective background and experience. At the conclusion of the first meeting, the client employer is responsible for setting the stage for subsequent meetings maintaining positive momentum. Again, barring scheduling concerns, the second, and more in-depth meeting, should take place no later than 7 days after the first discussion. Between the first and second meetings, part of the responsibility for positive momentum shifts to the candidate. The candidate should make, at the very least, verbal or written communication directly to the client employer expressing desire and interest in moving the process forward. Momentum moving into the second meeting should then be on an equal scale, each side sharing their burden. The second meeting gives both sides the opportunity to seek additional common ground on both a technical/skills based perspective, and a "chemistry" basis as well. Exchange of opinions and perspectives are critical here and honesty is the best policy for both sides. This is the stage where both candidate and employer should seek common ground personally and professionally. If that can be achieved, momentum is maintained and the process moves forward. If it cannot, momentum comes to its natural conclusion. Pulling the Trigger: Positive momentum is at its most tenuous when both sides are ready to "pull the trigger". Many employers make the mistake of letting momentum slip at this stage of the game. They feel that the candidate is suitably comfortable and interested in the opportunity so they can simply take their time in preparing and executing the formal offer process. Wrong. You see, the candidate is also "pulling the trigger". Making the decision to interview for a new job is one thing, but now the candidate is faced with a decision: Move from the known to the unknown. That's correct, the client employer has spent all this time making the candidate feel comfortable, wanted and even desired but they still must make the conscious choice from going from their current employer to you, the "unknown". That is why the client employer must execute here without flaw or delay. Momentum should be at its highest point, the candidate at the point of no return where he overcomes his natural reluctance for change inherent in all humans. The candidate must mentally cross the bridge to the unknown by accepting a mutually agreeable offer of employment, verbally framed and presented by the client employer and reaffirmed in writing. Observant client employers can share in the reflection of potential hires gone awry from lack of momentum in the process. An otherwise exceptional candidate that somehow "slipped through the cracks" or was not "moved on" in a timely manner costs the company in the end as they are delayed in executing their business strategy. My advice to client employers: Be aware of "The Big Mo'" and keep it on your side. Executive recruiter William Werksman is a frequent columnist to job boards including http://www.NevadaJobBoard.com addressing both the candidate's and employer's perspective. Werksman's expertise has been featured in business magazines, national newspapers and television news segments. His firm, Resource Partners, is recognized as the leading source of specialized and executive talent in the Casino and Gaming industry. He manages a staff of recruiters out of his firm's Las Vegas, Nevada headquarters. He may be reached at: Bill@CareerInsider.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Jobs City of Rochester (.gov)
Careers West Virginia Department of Education
Careers Washington State University
Work With Us National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Careers The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Why Your CV/Resume is Not Generating The Interview Offers You Want
If your current CV or resume is not generating the interview offers you want, it is time to start assessing it. Check to see that the following descriptors apply:*Begins with a succinct, clearly stated career objective tailored to the particular job for which you are applying.
Turning Their Loss Into Your Job Gain
It isn't the end of the world, even if it seems like it. Losing your job can be a heart-breaking experience.
Managing Emotions During Career Change and Job Search, Part One
How can you manage your emotions during your career change or job search? To answer this practical and wise question, let's first define what emotions are. Emotions, also commonly referred to as feelings, are energy released in your body in response to perceived events, that is, to data received via your five senses.
4 Internet Job Search Mistakes to Avoid
The Internet is the most powerful employment tool on earth. Hands down.
Why Bachelors Make Bad Decisions: Five Tips to Move from Reality Television to Your Career Change
The Bachelor is one of the many reality shows that have gripped the US television viewing audience.Premise: A very eligible Bachelor (last season featured an NFL quarterback) stays in a mansion with several eligible young women.
Hiring the OverQualified Employee or Mining for Gold
I am having a hard time understanding why a valuable resource such as the "over qualified employee is having such a hard time getting a job. Something seems to be out of whack here.
Jobseekers! Look For Smoke, Not Fire
"If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always received," said some wise person. This is certainly true when it comes to job-hunting, especially during a "sucky" economy.
Whiners Need Not Apply
Sometime last summer I decided to host a pity party and invite all my friends. Well, not all my friends, exactly.
Four Important Questions to Ask Your Interviewer; Do You Really Want to Work for This Person?
Many job seekers miss a golden opportunity when they are asked towards the end of an interview if they have any questions. If they feel the interviewer adequately explained the position, they make the mistake of answering "No" to this question.
Powerful Phone Interviews
Phone interviews are de rigueur with many organizations.Companies conduct phone interviews for a number of reasons.
Job Search: Time Management
There is an old adage that "Looking for a job is harder than working." How true! The rigors of job search are magnified by the turmoil we experience: lack of self-confidence, humiliation, financial pressure, and the undercurrent of emotions that color all we do: fear, anger, depression, anxiety, loss.
Bringing Our Family to Work
Let's face it, most of us consider professional success and personal success the same.In other words we become our careers.
What A Former Stay At Home Mom Knows About Creating A Stunning Resume That You Dont
Recently I was asked to touch up a friend's resume. Her challenge was simple.
Career Transitions: Creating Complementary Careers in a Day
Down-sized? Outsourced? Burned-out? Wizened up? That's what I said. Wizened up! Now is not the time to be depressed.
20 Questions That Helped Me Take A Leap Of Faith And Change Careers
When I was working more than 45 hours a week in a job with a two hour commute each day, the challenge of a new husband, new step children, two beagle dogs and maintaining a home was more than a stretch! Something had to give, and unfortunately I was the one starting to not be able to hold it together!It was a Catch 22 situation. We had an expensive home near the city center with large mortgage costs, which demanded feeding through joint incomes.
Resume Writing Tips
Make sure that your resume is up to date with your latest job experience and educational accomplishments. Have a friend or relative evaluate your resume to see if it is clear, consistent, and fairly represents your skills and experience.
The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process
Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events. For our purposes, the interview process is a "development of events".
Benefits of Mystery Shopping For Secret Shoppers
Mystery shoppers are people who are hired to scrutinize employees, products and customer services of any organization. The benefits that they get from mystery shopping are:They enjoy doing a job that's fun and frolic.
Why Human Resources Are The Real Key To Success In This Information Age
The rapid changes that have mainly been brought about by the information age are numerous and irreversible. They have affected our way of life on virtually every front and have left many old companies in ruins while causing other new ones to swiftly emerge and grow to great unprecedented profitability, literally overnight.
Can You Actually Fail A Personality Quiz?
Q. I didn't get a job that I interviewed for.
|