5 Ways Recruiting is Like Star Wars

Today’s guest blogger is Liz Carey, network coordinator for NBN. NPAworldwide and NBN merged in September 2014, and our two networks are working toward a full integration effective January 1, 2016. We are happy to have Liz as a regular part of our blogging team.

In honor of the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and in the spirit of all things Star Wars, here’s some wisdom from some of our favorite characters to help guide your recruiting.

“Do…or do not. There is no try” – Yoda

Never just “try” to fill a job order or recruit a candidate – “try” implies there is a possibility of failure. Instead, just do those things. Recruitment is extremely difficult, and there will likely be failures along the way. But if you take Yoda’s advice to Luke Skywalker, and commit fully, win or lose, you will eventually succeed.

“Your eyes can deceive you. Don’t trust them.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi

This equates to not judging a book by its cover — A seemingly sloppy resume may not tell the full story of a candidate’s experience and skills. We all have a subconscious idea of what the perfect candidate should look like, but instead of just using your eyes, contact a potential candidate by phone to get to know them better and understand their merits before bringing them in for an interview.

“Somebody has to save our skins.” – Leia Organa

For every job order, there is a reason why the client came to you. There is a role that needs to be filled or a problem solved. Figure out early in the process what your client’s “hero” looks like so that you don’t waste their (or your) time. Consistently deliver great results and your clients will be saying “The Force is strong with this one,” about you before you know it.

“In my experience there is no such thing as luck.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi

Recruitment is competitive, fast-paced, and continually changing. It is essential to be in tune with the industry, and remain up-to-date with market trends and where to go to look for qualified candidates. Make sure to reach out to your peers to see how you can collaborate. When posting jobs, tailor it to the exact candidate you want. When working with candidates and clients, make sure to give them feedback every step of the way.

“Patience you must have, my young Padawan.” – Yoda

Have patience when you have a fall-off or a candidate backs out. Recruitment is unpredictable and you must be able to bounce back and keep going. Hard work sustains success.