Blog

All Lies Matter

If I had the proverbial dollar for every time a candidate’s defense to my question about a, let’s call it “mistruth”, on their resume was “Because a recruiter told me to” I could by a pair of Louboutins.  And who are these recruiters?  Coaching candidates to omit, embellish, or outright fabricate on a resume is a fireable offense in my office.

My team and I review close to 500 resumes weekly and with a survey from CareerBuilder of more than 2,500 hiring managers finding that 56% have caught job candidates lying on their resume, we’re potentially reading more fiction than I did in my Freshman Intro to American Lit class. While I’ve spent my career in Executive Recruiting learning much about human behavior while guiding people through the major stress of job change, this pervasive attitude that it’s ok to be less than truthful on a resume still leaves me shaking my head.

What’s in a Fee? Me!

What is included in your fee?” …

This is a question I have been running up against lately from prospective clients. 

 …“I don’t know your company. Why should I work with you over the other million recruiting agencies out there?” 

Well, quite honestly it’s a matter of preference, I answer.  All recruitment agencies can find you talent, some get lucky at times, and we may even all fish in the same candidate pond. So what does make my fee different from the others?

What’s ‘Company Culture’ Got to Do With it?

If someone were to ask me what’s so great about Hobson Associates, I’d probably say:

1. I had a chance to get and earn an equity position.
2. The office technology and environment are world class.
3.  My boss Lisa is super supportive.
4. The training is second to none, etc., etc., etc.

Wanna know the REAL reason?! ...

Showing Off

I recently I decided to take myself out of the comfort zone and make an appearance at a Pharmaceutical trade show. You're probably thinking, “Yes! He gets to leave the office, travel, face-time with clients and candidates…” What’s so tough about that?

As great as it is to get out there and “schmooze”, I must say that trade shows are lots of work and preparation- involving marketing calls, setting up meetings, and making reservations. Then comes the actual appearance at the show. 

Sweeping Change

To all my friends, coworkers and Partners in the recruiting industry:

I woke up Wednesday morning at 3:00 AM like many of you probably did, uncertain about our election. Shortly after that, it was announced that the decision of the American people was made. For good or bad, the United States has a Republican President, Senate and House of Representatives.

Kyrgios

Unless you are a tennis aficionado, you probably have never heard of Nick Kyrgios.

But you know him. You might have been him. Or maybe you manage him. Or God help you, maybe you are in a relationship with him.

Nick is a 21 year old freak of nature from Australia. Perhaps the most physically gifted athlete in tennis history. A long, lean frame (tennis players are now the size of NBA point guards), more quick twitch fiber than Verizon, a lively serving arm that fires 140 mph offerings and backs them up with a wristy, explosive forehand that leaves audiences gasping and broadcasters at a loss for words.

Perks You Didn’t Know Millennials Would Love

Are your benefit packages attracting Millennials? How can you be sure? These are questions many employers ask these days, including Glassdoor. To find out what benefits Millennials really care about, we asked our own employees. The answers may surprise you, but one thing is for certain: benefits can make or break whether a candidate wants to work for you.

Guilt, Pie and Opportunities

This is the time of the year when many of us are getting ready for the Holidays. First up, Thanksgiving: A time to take stock of all that we have to be grateful for, before letting loose with the credit cards. We bow our heads in shame as our religious leaders remind us that a few of us will start our day trudging to the local watering hole to compete for drinking “water” with beasties, which can’t be said for most of the world’s population.  We feel a little guilty for taking some of the most basic things like food and shelter for granted.

Which Piece Are You?

Chess has always impressed me as a game that challenges two players to use all of their cognitive capabilities and outwit, outsmart, and out strategize their opponent.  I consider it to be a thinking person’s game, just like my job in staffing and recruiting, where skill, planning, strategy and some degree of gamesmanship are paramount.

“Exercise” Your Interview Skills!

Webster’s Dictionary (Excuse me? What’s that?... I meant Wikipedia), defines muscle atrophy as a decrease in the mass of muscle. Luckily, modern medicine has shown that moving around and getting active as soon as possible after a surgery or injury has big positive effects. Many of us, including myself, also know the positive outcomes of staying active by working out and/or going to the gym regularly. Although atrophy is not exactly what I am fighting at this point, it’s more “older” age, I realize the importance of keeping your muscles moving.