Dating and recruiting have a lot in common. Learn how to improve your recruiting efforts by applying the most common dating rules.<\/p>\n
Dating rule #1
\nFirst impressions are critical.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nDifferentiate yourself. Resist the \u201cI have a great position for you\u201d especially if you have never spoken to them.<\/p>\n
Dating rule #2
\nDon\u2019t believe everything you see. We have all heard stories from people that signed up for an online dating service and were shocked when their date was two feet shorter and 10 years older than the profile.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nCandidates exaggerate their strengths and skills and down play their weaknesses. Do not assume anything. Prescreen, interview, administer assessments, and call the references before you present the candidate to your hiring manager.<\/p>\n
Dating rule #3
\nPlay hard to get. Desperation is the world\u2019s worst perfume.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nIf you make a huge fuss over the candidate and beg them to interview, you will diminish your negotiating power.<\/p>\n
Dating rule #4
\nBe selective. You can not change people.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nLook for the red flags; don\u2019t avoid them. It is better for you to uncover any candidate weaknesses or issues than your hiring manager discovering them. Your name and reputation is all you have in this business.<\/p>\n
Dating rule #5
\nPrepare for the date.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nIf your candidate has spent 20 minutes on the phone with you and takes time off work to come to interview, and then you ask them \u201cso, tell me what you want to do?\u201d \u2014 you are wasting the candidate\u2019s time. You should have notes on the candidate\u2019s resume that you want to clarify, and if appropriate, the company profiles that best match what your candidate\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n
Dating rule #6
\nDon\u2019t talk too much. People who express the \u201cenough about me, what do you think about me?\u201d attitude sit home alone, a lot.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nThe candidate should be doing most of the talking. Assess what the candidate has to offer, what they need, and then set expectations of how you will work together. Let the candidate talk about the interview before you disclose the hiring manager\u2019s view. If you blurt out \u201cthey love you, you are the best candidate they have ever met!\u201d \u2014 what do you think happens to the candidate\u2019s salary requirements?<\/p>\n
Dating rule #7
\nFollow up with your date.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nAs an industry, one of the biggest complaints we get from candidates and hiring managers is the lack of communication. No news is still considered news to the candidate; make sure you keep your candidate in the loop.<\/p>\n
Dating rule #8
\nDon\u2019t be afraid to end the date early.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nPrescreen carefully, ask the hard questions, and always tell the candidate the truth. If they are not going to fit into your recruiting focus (skills, salary expectations, location, etc.), coach or make suggestions regarding who may be able to help them in the market.<\/p>\n
Dating rule #9
\nImprove your odds by hanging out where (like) people hang out.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nIf you are recruiting technology talent, sign up and participate in technology activities in your market. Volunteer at association meetings to check members in: you will meet every attending member, every meeting.<\/p>\n
Explain to people you meet that there are two types of people you would like to be introduced to: those who are leaders in their field and are looking for an opportunity and those who are leaders in their field and are not looking for an opportunity right now. You are an expert in your market, so people who are not looking now would still benefit from knowing you and the people in your network.<\/p>\n
Dating Rule #10
\nThey will not buy the cow if they are getting the milk for free.<\/p>\n
Recruiting application:
\nWhen you agree to represent a candidate, you are entering into a business agreement. You need to set clear expectations of how the process must work. If the candidate will not agree to the terms, they are not committed to you, so turn them loose.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dating and recruiting have a lot in common. Learn how to improve your recruiting efforts by applying the most common dating rules. Dating rule #1 First impressions are critical. Recruiting application: Differentiate yourself. Resist the \u201cI have a great position for you\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[3],"class_list":["post-1506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-null"],"yoast_head":"\n