I love my job - relationships not transactions

It's already March and I cannot believe how much positive impact my great colleagues at R121 are having with people across the USA and further afield.  2016 has started with a huge BANG.

We have helped 50 people find new jobs, connecting dozens of companies to the talent that can help them elevate their ROI on existing IT systems.  It's so much more than a transaction and I wanted to share with my Linkedin network my take on SAP staffing.  

Much of what I see in SAP staffing is volume based, "throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks" approach, lot's of activity, questionable productivity.  I have noticed that some clients, some candidates and some recruiters sign up to this approach and are able to get good results through applying a high volume, transactional approach to recruiting.  They refine it and they make it work well for them.  I used to think this approach was wrong.  Maturity (a nice way of saying I got old) has taught me that it is not wrong, just not right for me.  I know it is also not right for everyone in my close network - we are close because we favor the relationship approach.  Took me a long time to figure this out - birds of a feather flock together, so I look for clients and candidates that want a relationship model, I wish those that want a transactional model good luck and bear no ill will to them.  Transactional recruitment is  not me and it does not suit my personality or the niche of our organisation.  It is very refreshing when you can generate a laser focus that enables you to focus on what you do well and where you add value - conversely reducing the amount of elephants you try to push uphill :)

My mentor at R121, Chris Holcroft, always taught me to focus on relationships.  Along the way I have found many companies, clients, other recruiters and candidates that prefer this approach.  Targeted specific communication, low volume, high quality.  Often the price is a little more, typically the increased price mirrors the increased value.  We may only approach candidates we know about a job opportunity 2-3 times a year, but when we do it is a strong fit.  We may only provide our clients 2 profiles, but both are credible, reliable and validated.  Having recruited for over 13 years this approach never gets stale, never gets old and provides so much to be thankful for.

Thankful that; 1) People I know all over the country, good reliable talented people, get connected to good companies, companies who will elevate their careers and help them improve their work life balance.  2) Company hiring managers value my take on their recruiting drives as a trusted partner.

In January and February I did a lot more direct hire recruiting than I have done for a long time, I am traditionally a contract specialist.  I have come to really enjoy it.  There is so much more time spent on the process, getting to know the client and the candidates.  I traveled to see the clients on multiple occasions, to see the facilities, the location,  to really understand the company; past, present and future.  Working with job seekers, you get to know them, their dreams, their goals.  In my mind I get to consider whether the two parties will mesh, align, compliment.  Will the sum of the parts create a better whole?  Will it benefit both parties for a connection to be created?  It is mentally challenging, but so much fun., so fulfilling when it works and everyone benefits. 

Thank You to all the people that I have had the pleasure to get to know.  I have now been over 13 years in this industry and not for one day has this felt like "a job", it's been fun because of each and every one of you.  More specifically thank you to the people in my network that I have been working with this year, you have all been great to work with and together we have achieved some great things which will have lasting positive impact - now that is something to be real proud of.

This year, Recruit121 LLC became R121 LLC.  Same people, same culture, same approach to staffing.  We are now our own entity.  We are proud of the impact that we have on people's lives.

This is my first ever blog.  Would love feedback, ideas, comments.  Thank You for reading!