“…Exceptional talent virtually NEVER looks for their next job…”
One of the 1st lessons I learned when I started full time Recruiting was that “Exceptional talent virtually never looks for their next job”. The first few months of full time recruiting, I specifically called on people who had flagged their LinkedIn Profile “Open to Work – I’m Available Immediately“. After talking to 30+, actively looking, candidates, and conducting basic technical interviews, I realized everyone that I’d talked to, wasn’t very good, and none of them were people I could present to any of my clients.
“…After talking to 30+, ACTIVELY LOOKING candidates…none of them were people I could present to any of my clients…”
Whenever I did talk to a really good talent, it was very common for them to say to me “Mike, I’m not actively looking right now”. To which I would respond: “Oh, ok. Thanks for taking my call Brian, do you mind if I follow up with you in six months…?”
Enter Former Recruiting Jedi – My Guide
It didn’t take long for me to realize, I was a Software Engineer, that was my identity – that’s who I was. I didn’t read the same books or articles that salespeople and recruiters read. I didn’t listen to the same podcasts or read the same blogs that salespeople and recruiters listened to and read. I didn’t go home and think about the same business solutions in the same manner that salespeople and recruiters did.
“…I love it when the first thing a candidate says to me is ‘I’m not actively looking right now…”
Joe and I both agreed, if we’re going to be successful in this new venture – we’re going to have to expand WHO we are, not just what activities we do. So we started with Sales and Recruiter Training. We evaluated a number of training companies and individuals, when we met our Jedi Guide – Greg.
One of the 1st things Greg said that stopped me in my tracks was: “I love it when the first thing a candidate says to me is, ‘I’m not actively looking right now!’ A players never look for their next job!”
Wait! What?
When Exceptional Talent Moves On To a New Role
“…Exceptional talent changes jobs when a friend, or a great recruiter tells them a compelling story of how this new opportunity is an improvement on their current situation…”
So what do you say to someone who flat out states “I’m not actively looking right now?”.
Tell a compelling story about your new role. Exceptional talent doesn’t look for their next role. Exceptional talent changes jobs when a friend, or a great recruiter tells them a compelling story of how this new opportunity is an improvement on their current situation.
“…the owners were developers, leads, in management and consulting, [it] makes our story telling even more effective – we know our audience…”
Tonka Source is very good at telling our clients story. The fact that the owners were developers, leads, in management and consulting, makes our story telling even more effective – we know our audience.
Call Tonka Source and ask to hear a story of one of our clients, then let us learn your story and start recruiting the exceptional talent you’re looking for