Some weeks are good, some are OK, some are bad. For example, about 2 weeks ago I lost a contract job with a local software development company. It was for a position that they definitely needed but they decided to pull it in house (even after they admitted it was beyond their own resources). Frustrating for sure and hopefully they’ll come back to us down the road and utilize our services again. The bad thing is that we had 3 great candidates ready to interview. My recruiter had to go back and let them know that it was closed.

Then today I found out that a candidate for a great position that I was also working on was offered a job after 1 telephone interview with another company! This is after he’s interviewed (telephone) with the company that I’ve been working with. Argh! But that’s life. My client was dragging their feet some and didn’t grab the guy fast enough. The other company obviously saw the value of this guy and snatched him quickly before someone else (us) could nab him.

Note to HR and Hiring Managers: If someone is talented and has a great background, they will not last long in the open market. Gotta be quick or you lose.

Part of my job is to find contract-to-hire, or contract positions. The funny thing is that all I’ve been able to find so far is direct-hire positions. I’m not complaining cause if we fill those positions I still get paid, but it’s the contract work I want. Those are the jobs that will help keep my mortgage paid on time. 

On a great note though, my co-worker Mary, just placed her 1st direct hire today. Go Mary! Time to honk the horn!

As I’m learning the ropes of recruiting that is one of the subtle questions we look for and ask our candidates. Maybe not in direct terms, but in terms like the following: Why did you leave the job you are at or why are you job hunting? (If the answer is only money then we usually flag that as a sign the candidate might not be the right one we are looking for).

I even ask myself what motivates me. Is it only money? (it’s not) Is it the challenge? (partially) The ability to become financially independent and debt free? (very much so) or something else? (probably that too)

Ask yourself the next time you head into work. What motivates you? If you can’t find an answer maybe you need to think a little deeper and figure out what drives you. So many people are on autopilot today.  Come in. Punch clock. Work. Punch out. Go home. Veg. Rinse and repeat. There’s more to life than that. Each and everyone of us has a purpose. The first is to glorify God and the second to love one another as Christ has loved us.

I’ve always been an on and off blogger. Writing doesn’t come naturally to me but I am motivated to keep this blog going because it improves my communication skills and forces me out of my comfort zone. That’s my motivation to keep things going. Even when I don’t feel like blogging I try to post something.