Top 10 Tools & Techniques for Recruiting

Throughout the world, societies seem to be moving further by singing the praises of the drive for power and wealth. You’ve heard the sayings about the downsides of the “rat race” and “keeping up with the Joneses” — but at the end of the day, we need only look in the mirror to see a perfect example of the people we’re mocking.

I’ve decided to pursue a life of recruiting and sourcing. There is little to no prospect of “moving up” since I don’t plan on going corporate, and I’ll probably spend most of my of time working from home in my undies…!!!

So why would someone do something so ridiculous? Here’s my argument for abandoning the career ladder and instead pursuing a so-called “dead-end” career.

If You Have the Right Job, You’ll Love Working

Our society likes to say that a well-adjusted person “works to live” and doesn’t “live to work,” but I say that’s totally backwards. If the part of your day that you are working doesn’t count as “living,” then half of your life will be irrecoverably lost.

Instead, find the life you want to live and then figure out how to make a living from it. As a recruiter, I view myself as the consummate marriage broker, fulfilling the expectations and desires of both the candidate and the employer. My career choice gives me the ability to do what I want to do for fun, and to get paid enough to live for it.

Getting to Be Different

There’s something appealing and satisfying about leaving behind the pursuit of social status and trading it in for the pursuit of personal perfection. Beware, though, that abandoning the eternal hunt for power and wealth can make you look rather alien in an increasingly suburban world.

Ending Performance Anxiety

I am not ambitious. I’m considerably more interested in making my work acceptable to myself than I am in making it impressive to my peers. I don’t need upward mobility, because my current momentum will already carry me to or beyond where I want to be.

Financial Independence

How can making less money give you greater financial independence? The answer lies once again in social status. Many of the most expensive things we buy (like sporty cars, McMansions with serious acreage, or that 500 sq ft home theater) are luxury items that serve as a black hole for our incomes.

There is, of course, a certain level of income needed to live while being financially independent, but that number rises and falls depending on where you live and your own perceived social status.

How does pursuing a “dead-end” career fit in your lifestyle?

Just think of it! Sipping a frosty drink while sitting in a lounge chair on the beach – and on your lap sits a computer with an aircard. Your “virtual office”.

When I first starting dreaming about working from home full time, visions of a clean house, on-demand gourmet lunches, and selling my car clouded most of my reasoning.

While the benefits of going virtual are obvious, how to get your boss to see those benefits can often be less-obvious.

But the truth is, this move does have to benefit your company or boss in some way for them to agree to let you work remotely. So before you ask for a meeting with your superior, sit down and compose a request by answering the following questions:

1. First and most importantly, will working from home actually help you do your job?

Unless you’ve done something to personally insult yours, bosses make decisions based on job performance and productivity.

If your job description involves the physical supervision of employees in their cubes or work spaces, you probably need to consider a career change rather than going virtual. If, however, your position requires a high level of creativity and focus and you spend most of your day alone, bring that up.

Working in a loud, booming office environment can make it hard to concentrate, and sometimes even to get things done. Emphasize that working virtually will allow you more control over your environment and allow you to focus on providing high quality work. What’s not to like about that?

2. Does your company’s communication structure support going virtual?

Does your company already include several virtual folks. Are meetings held on Skype or GoTo Meeting conference calls, or do you spend the day with your eyes glued on the Microsoft Outlook home screen.

This is an ideal situation for going virtual, but perhaps it is not your situation. If you can be patient, take the long-term guerilla approach by slowly suggesting best practices and different technologies that can build toward a more virtual business structure six to 12 months down the line.

3. Do you have comfortable and relaxed communication habits with your supervisors and teammates?

Maybe you use Skype and are well-liked on your team… but could you shoot a text to someone who does graphics or pick up the phone and call your editor without extreme awkwardness?

The state of your current team interaction can either be a hindrance (Uhh…why are you calling me?) or a blessing (Hey, what up?). Strong relationships that will encourage cooperation and teamwork regardless of where you work is what makes a team shine, virtual or not.

If this does not describe your current situation, put your time and effort into building those kinds of relationships rather than crafting the perfect thesis on working virtually. Because without this vital piece, your transition probably won’t be smooth anyhow.

4. Have you proven yourself to be a resourceful, passionate and dedicated employee?

Here’s a wake up call: if you’re new to the company (six months or less), you’re wasting your breath with this request and possibly harming your reputation.

Working virtually is about trust. If your boss, HR or the CEO doesn’t trust you without hesitation to work the hours you say you have worked (and even sometimes, honestly, if your boss/HR/CEO doesn’t like you), virtual will never happen for you. Work on being likeable and give it time.

5. Do you have a dedicated professional working space at home?

Make sure you let your boss know how you’re going to do your work. Speak up about your reliable internet, scanner, printer and dedicated phone line. If you have a full-on home office, all the better.

The goal here is to give your employer the picture of an idyllic, calm and controlled workspace that just happens to be in your house instead of in a cube.

6. Finally, don’t make demands.

You’re asking a big, fat favor. You’re asking for a gift, for trust and for someone to help you make your life easier. The last thing your proposal needs is a tone of entitlement.

Give your boss every reason to say yes by suggesting it as a suggestion. Offer your reasoning, ask for permission, and ask for it to happen on a trial basis.

Try a closing line like this on your written request:

If you would allow me to try this schedule on a trial basis with room for feedback and flexibility to attend important meetings and events at the office, I feel that this venue would enable me to reach my best potential at this company.

A little groveling with a lot of logic and reasoning will pass on the perfect tone.

Here is my proof!!!
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