The Wild West

Dear Diary,

It’s the fourth week of January and, already, I’ve almost broken my arm, walked into two lampposts, had my second ever nosebleed, eaten a total of nine raw sugar cubes, broken a nail mid-week (I work in recruitment the nail salon is not open when I get home so I’m nursing it with a plaster), seriously offended at least six people, and had my first ever actual haaart break. I may as well be in my forties getting a divorce having a mid life crisis with three and kids and live on a farm. Because, that would probably feel better right now. And it’s really really cold outside. I am struggling to understand how I’m managing to get myself out of bed in the morning. The law of attraction has never meant less to me. Okay so that’s a lie. Happy new year.

So, aside from hating everything with a pulse right now and having to take two steps backwards from every tube that I’m about to get on just in case someone accidentally pushes me onto a track?—?because let’s face it that’s the way my luck is going?—?I’m actually pretty content right now. Any normal person would have google mapped their way to the nearest bridge that looked half decent and jumped off it by now. But, failure is not an option and I’m sure next week I’ll catch some lols even though the thought that my last gym visit was on Sunday is making me throw up a little. But no ones died yet so it’s all good?—?I say with the bible in one hand and a pentagram in the other?—?. At least my Instagram’s on point.

It’s eight thirty and I’m still in the office. I think it’s time to go home now.

As well as being an absolute sugarbabe I’m still learning to grow up and although I’m twenty five I may as well be about six. But I don’t think I’d change that and I’m not ready to grow up just yet… I only recently learned how to use an iron and separate colours from black in the washing machine?—?I didn’t even know that was a thing, is it a thing? —

So, aside from not being capable of walking in a straight line, I’m learning a lot about judgement and the Wild West in recruitment. Last year I spent a lot of time looking through people, (clients I worked with or wanted to work with and candidates…) rather than observing their every move purely because I didn’t have time to do so and it wasn’t really something I could be bothered to deal with. I started this year with open eyes and boy, am I surprised. It’s not even the end of the month yet and I’ve been asked to explain why I’m good at my job and asked what my exact interview process is, and, been told that my way apparently sucks (I’m sorry am I interviewing to work at your company?) despite putting some of the hottest talent in front of them and getting an 100 % portfolio interview ratio before I’ve even figured out what they do. Hold on. Before they’ve even figured out what they do. Don’t get me wrong, I love start ups, I work at a start up but unless you’re my Director or my mum, do not tell me how to do my job or try to interview me. As a recruiter I’m helping you to find the right people there’s a reason why we have different job titles and why no one know’s about you and/or is throwing themselves into your company.

As with any job there are people that are not so good at what they do –probably because they don’t enjoy it – but that’s with every sector and every title. You don’t run around calling them recruitment cowboys though, do you? Or cowboys of any sort for that matter. And I for one am sick of hearing it. You gonna hate every Tom, John or Jolene who tries to sell you sass as a service or complain about everyone in sales because they try to sell you something? What about the barista at Starbucks who tries to sell you a muffin with your coffee, or the guy that invented the meal deal, are they cowboys too? You might as well never leave your house if you’re that bothered. But that’s another article.

Look, I am not Limp Bizkit, it’s not my way or the highway. I listen to everything and I’m not afraid to ask stupid questions that I don’t know the answer to. I love learning and will be the first to admit if I’m wrong. But, I will kick anyone’s ass if I have to and will not deal with being patronised by loserk1ds on power trips or the misuse of social status and hierarchy because I simply don’t have to. And neither does anyone else who gets classified as a cowboy.

So, let’s conclude. Google tells me the definition of Cowboy in Brit terms is: a dishonest or careless person in business, especially an unqualified one (I’m not sure if I fully agree with this). Either way, recruiters are not all cowboys. In all profressions I don’t doubt that cowboys exist. But let’s look at individualism and differentiate one person to another. People in any sector that judge and categorise others for whatever reason and mock a whole profession rather than an actual individual is an idiot. I’m not saying that certain people should never ever be judged for what they’ve done, but, who are we to judge another person or whole profession?