Relational Connections

Hi Recruiters,

Looking for a job is a trying experience—emotionally, physically, and, some would even say, spiritually.

It’s also universal. We’ve all experienced the pains of job hunting. Yes, even nepo-babies endure the punishing gauntlet of rejection inherent in career-building. Even Sean Astin (of The Goonies and Rudy fame, and son of Hollywood elites) was navigating a dying career before being cast in his biggest role as Samwise Gamgee in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

I digress ??.

Putting yourself out there and getting denied access to rewarding work, or worse—stable income—feels bad enough. But, when the processes or people involved fail to return the effort that has been asked of you, it feels downright inhumane.

Every recruiter I know works hard to be the human element in the hiring process, to layer in the human touch wherever the experience for candidates may otherwise feel cold and automated.

Unfortunately, that approach is not always the norm, and I believe it has lost some serious traction recently. The cause? Working relationships became very transactional.

Fortunately, I believe things are slowly starting to shift. But, changing the status quo is going to take some work.

What Happened

The residual effects of the pandemic are still working against us being as human as we could be at work.

We went from work being a rather centralized environment with standard operating procedures to a suddenly squishy, abstract, disconnected world where unserious risks (remember “The Great Resignation”?) were being catastrophized similarly as real issues of the time (like pandemic-induced mental and physical health concerns).

The subsequent normalization of remote/hybrid work extended COVID-era isolation symptoms, and tech advancements—from communications to data collection (making more and more of what we do as humans quantifiable on spreadsheets)—have all had rippling effects on the deepening dehumanization of the typical workplace.

Hiring sprees turned into decimating layoffs; investment in employee success became viewed as a business risk; employers backpedaled on flexibility in favor of control, and businesses prioritized profits over growth. The result? Relationships between employers and employees became more about what each can take from the other versus what they can build and earn together.

These factors, and others, have created an environment where burnout, stress, and loneliness have had ample opportunity to fester. They are mortal enemies of being able to reach out to and touch someone, or being able to reach down inside yourself to be a real and authentic person. And, they can add up to impact job performance, on-the-job satisfaction, and even our outlook on life.

These symptoms—stress, burnout, and loneliness—become prominent when someone is on the job search. We’ve all felt it. But those of us fortunate enough not to be looking for work right now must not forget.

Loneliness

Loneliness in particular is a big issue. In fact, around 79% of white-collar employees have felt lonely as a result of their role within the past month.?

We talked about this in a recent Recruiter Therapy session, where @Steve Levy observed that the number one problem in America is loneliness. Steve noted that, while he hears a lot of people talking about it, he doesn’t see anyone doing much of anything about it. It’s almost like society is bottoming out.

In a recent article, The Harvard Business Review states unequivocally:

Loneliness and isolation have had such a widespread impact on society over the last five years that public health officials have declared the situation an epidemic.

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has stated that “Loneliness is like hunger, a signal we’re lacking something for survival.”

What’s a Recruiter to Do?

I believe the best and most accessible antidote to the crisis—to buoy our spirits and rejuvenate our outlook—is community. The networks and connections that we create nurture us, providing the nourishment we need to overcome the loneliness, stress, and burnout we will continue to encounter.

Although published almost ten years ago, the Stanford Social Innovation Review offers a timeless discussion of the concept of community and why it is so essential.

It’s a bit long, but worth the read:

“Community” is so easy to say. The word itself connects us with each other. It describes an experience so common that we never really take the time to explain it. It seems so simple, so natural, and so human.

Community is not a place, a building, or an organization; nor is it an exchange of information over the Internet. Community is both a feeling and a set of relationships among people. People form and maintain communities to meet common needs.

Members of a community have a sense of trust, belonging, safety, and caring for each other. They have an individual and collective sense that they can, as part of that community, influence their environments and each other.

This is why, dear reader, you are in exactly the right place, at the right time.

Because things are changing. Businesses are realizing that relationships are critical for growth and profits. It’s beginning to change how companies interact with partners and customers (evidenced by a growing emphasis from businesses on customer retention, as well as the surge in LinkedIn posts from salespeople sharing the epiphany that “treating prospects like humans” is a huge unlock), and I believe it will soon begin to impact how companies approach hiring and employee retention.?

Right now, businesses may be able to coast on the fact that economic insecurity is preventing people from leaving bad jobs. But, that will change. And, when it does, companies interested in building relationships with people will be set up to succeed in the long run.

Those in recruiting and TA have the opportunity to influence that shift in perspective—in how we identify, qualify, and communicate with candidates. We’re in the business of connecting people to work. We offer many job seekers the very first experience they will have with our companies or clients. We set the tone for what a workplace and the relationships that make it can be.

So, lean in. Invest time and energy. Ask for nothing in return. These are the behaviors that feed our humanity and take the coarseness out of our routines and interactions with others. As recruiters, we change lives, and it is a human endeavor.

What else is happening in hiring?

• Hiring Women, Rather Than Just Talking About It, Works
• Amazon is reviving an obscure entry-level interview procedure: ‘Bar raisers’
• New Report: Talent Acquisition Trends 2024

Aaron’s Corner

Aaron Iba?ez here.??

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