Ragan Kellams - Just the HR Chick.

It seems nowadays that there's a new recruiting firm popping up just about every day. I can't tell you how many calls I get a week from firms that I have never heard of - and many times never hear of again. Although, yes, I am on the other side of the desk now, I am still a recruiter at heart. It is my bread and butter. It's what I was born to do - the thrill of the hunt and the power of the connection - at the core, I am and will always be, a recruiter.

This is why, when I speak to a recruiter… Continue

In the past I have pondered the phenomena of entitlement associated with Gen Y and Millenials. Well, hold the phone...I think the past 10 months has given all of us - Gen X'ers and Y'ers and beyond - a little dose of reality. 2009, so far, has shown us economic turmoil that most of us have never experienced in our lifetimes - and hopefully never will again. Collapse of the housing market, unemployment rates through the roof, banking crisis, bankruptcies, layoffs...you name it. It all equals one… Continue

It may be a sign of the times. It may be a result of the web becoming an open forum for the masses. It may just be that people are generally unhappy. I don't know the reason why explicitly, but I do know that there is a lot more snark in the world today. You might wonder what I mean specifically, by the term "snark." It's more than negativity. It's more than being opinionated. It's the negativity and commentary that is infused with venom, spite and oftentimes pure hatred.

I am a frequent visito… Continue

There's no doubt there's been plenty written on being careful when it comes to what you publish about yourself online. But when it comes to your career - you can't careful enough. Certain things that seem fun or kitchy now, might come back to bite you sooner or later. These "perma-prints" could follow you for years, maybe even the rest of your career.

Case in point, a few years ago, we had an intern working for the company from a very prestigious school's masters program. Because of their field… Continue

Just a quick note about how NOT to get an HR Director to work with you. Send an email like this:

"Most recruiters who were calling you last year are no longer around; but you, the hiring manger, and I, a recruiter, are survivors and still here! I would love to take 20 minutes of your time to learn about how I can recruit FOR you rather than FROM you."

Don't threaten that if I dont work with you, that you'll recruit from me. To me that's just a challenge. Bring it.