Thanksgiving is this week here in the United States, and for many of us, that means preparing for a day centered on spending time with family, sharing good food, and giving thanks for all that we have. But for candidates in search of meaningful work, Thanksgiving can also be a time of reflection and evaluation. As recruiters, understanding why candidates are reevaluating their work can help better connect them with opportunities that align with their values and desired career paths.
Over the past few years, candidates had to confront new challenges and uncertainties in their work lives due to the pandemic. As a result, the idea of meaningful work has become more important than ever before. Candidates are looking for work that aligns with their values, provides opportunities for growth and development, and ultimately allows them to make a positive impact on the world around them.
Thanksgiving can be a powerful time for reflection and evaluation, as it provides a break from the day-to-day busyness of work and life. Candidates may use this holiday as an opportunity to take a step back and evaluate whether their current work situation is helping them achieve their desired career goals. They may ask themselves questions like, “Am I using my skills and talents in a way that has impact?” or “Am I working towards something bigger than myself?” These kinds of questions can help candidates align their work with their values and ultimately feel more fulfilled and motivated in their careers.
Additionally, candidates may also use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to gather feedback from their loved ones. Family and friends who know you well can provide valuable insight into our strengths and weaknesses, and can offer advice on how to find work that aligns with our values. As recruiters, you can use this information to better understand what candidates are looking for in their next role and create job descriptions that speak to their desired career path and values.
Another way that Thanksgiving can encourage reflection on meaningful work is by providing a contrast between our personal and professional lives. Candidates may use this holiday as a chance to evaluate whether their current work situation is allowing them to spend enough time with loved ones or pursue personal interests outside of work. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of work-life balance, and candidates may be looking for roles that offer flexibility or other benefits that can help them achieve this balance.
Finally, candidates may use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to think about how their work impacts their local or global community. The pandemic has emphasized the interconnectedness of our world, and it’s no longer enough for candidates to simply have a good job – they want to know that their work is making a positive impact. By reflecting on the ways in which their work impacts others, candidates can find work that aligns with their desire to make a difference in the world.
Thanksgiving can be a powerful time of reflection for candidates in search of meaningful work. As recruiters, it’s important that you understand why candidates are reevaluating their current work situation during this holiday and offer opportunities that align with their values and desired career paths. By valuing candidates’ desires for meaningful work and creating job postings that speak to these values, you can better connect them with roles that offer growth, opportunity, and ultimately a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
Similarly, recruiters can take this time to reflect and express gratitude for all the people and tools that help make you successful. Recruiting can be stressful and time-consuming, but use the holiday to remind yourself of the success stories of finding a candidate their dream job, or fulfilling a difficult need for your client, or sending a lead to a trading partner that helped them land a new client, and it may help you appreciate the hard times and realize how rewarding this line of work is.