RecruitFest, Part Deux

How do you top a drumming circle with, as Maha put it, the "stars" of recruitment? I guess you take those same stars and put them in a room with some markers, some paper and some eager students. The hunt got under way as John Sumser, Susan Burns, Craig Silverman and Scott Love opened the floor for free flowing conversation and an open exchange of ideas and suggestions on how to do this job we all know and love - and not just "do it" but do it better and prepare your day, as well as your future.

Listed below are some notable items from each of the tracks:

John Sumser told us about the power of staying fresh and approaching your day similar to those that embrace Zen Buddhism - "Encounter the wretched excess of your mind..." This was a powerful statement for me as I lead an extremely busy life and usually do not take the time to examine why something isn't working - I just plow through it or substitute something in... Others in the group suggested: "Make a Pro/Con list," "Be detached from the outcome," "Set an alarm and re-evaluate your day"... And then came: "Change your definition of what is good"
The open dialogue was imperative for this track and John knew exactly how to direct each session.

Craig Silverman taught us that the skill of gathering information is an art. Building relationships and adding value by gathering necessary information in a "tell me more" fashion will lead to hiring manager happiness. The statement, "When you get away from the 'keep it simple,' the complexity keeps you from being successful" broke ground for further conversation and shedding of light. We heard "Zero to Hero" loud and clear, as did our neighbors, a local dental association - I hope they listened for there was a lot to learn.

Susan Burns held her ground with her journey map that was filled in further by each track of attendees. Recognizing key points in our history will help us in the present and allow understanding and readiness as we face an uncertain economy and ever-changing technologies. We discussed having a Beginner's Mind: facing life/work/trials as a child would... with no preconceived notions or biases or prejudices. Thought-provoking questions like, "What does the future look like for the internal recruitment function?" kept us in focus and ready to cross a bridge of knowledge with Susan and each other...

Scott Love shared ideas on how to succeed in client development and client retention. Thoughts like "provide more or greater value than you charge for" allowed for further discussion and understanding of why some recruiters are more successful than others. Knowing how to sell your product - YOU - is a valuable tool to draw on when closing a deal, making a sale or getting a fee agreement or retainer proposal signed.

In the middle of all this was an incredible lunch and further opportunities to talk shop with new found friends and advisors. And all the while Jason would poke his head in and made sure the show was moving along....

Highlights of Part Deux:
~The food! Lunch, cookies, coffee, tea and juices were on every wall...no tummy growling at this conference...
~Learning from four of the finest.
~Hearing stories of rogue recruiters and successful relationship building techniques
~Hearing from Alex, Dave J., Maha, David P., Andrew W., Ann, and many others in the sessions... it was all out there.
~My hour-long nap before Part Trois.... heaven.