Digging Into RecruitingBlogs.com v2.09

(March 06, 2009) Did you notice the attention my last column generated? Digging Into RecruitngBlogs.com v 2.08 was the most trafficked single posting (although another got more actual comments) in the history of RBC. The discussion occupied the bandwidth and brainwaves of some very interesting people for an entire weekend.

Why all the fuss?

Jason Davis blasted an email to the entire RBC list; there were 50ish tweets and retweets on the subject; lots of facebook and friendfeed links; a good subject and great, well mannered input all contributed to a wildly successful conversation. Most of the comments were extremely thoughtful. For much of the conversation, the participants each took the responsibility for moving the ball a little bit forward.

As if to prove Fast Company wrong, the conversation launched at the very same time that someone called the HR Bartender was lamenting the dearth of 'convo' in the recruiting space. It's really hard to make sweeping generalizations about any part of our industry, including the assertion that sourcing is dead. But, not making generalizations makes for really boring, wishy washy 'convo'.

Certainly not everyone likes the tussle of a debate. In fact, you can reasonably guess that more timid people kept their jobs in the downturn. Debaters, who like to illuminate by exaggeration, are noisy and unruly. Pursuing the truth through caricature-ization is not always a career friendly tactic. But, it makes for great 'convo' and good reading. Part of the fun of online community is the excitement of a long conversation.

That's the strange balance you have to strike when getting a message out through new media. If your pitch is not entertaining, no one will hear it. If you don't work to keep the conversation going, the message dies on the vine. There's even room for people who always have to have the last word in this new media ecology. But, you've got to keep it lively.

In the thousands of words we all exchanged, we clarified the difference between a variety of sourcing types. We educated each other on the inherent value of our work. In some cases, we shilled for completely unrelated activities. All in all, it was a good example of community in action.

Check out JohnSumser.com. I'm on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Friendfeed. Catch up with me.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maureen Sharib on March 6, 2009 at 7:43am

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on March 6, 2009 at 8:36am

Alas another HR generalist blogger thinks that because they hold a SPHR cert that they're also experts on recruiting. Head on over to HRbartender and check out Charlene's posts on Recruiting and Retention. It's focus is on OD with her best recruiting stuff the type of overcooked pablum that has appeared in HR magazine for years. It's no wonder she bemoans the lack of convo - she wouldn't recognize it if it were plastered to a billboard I'm front of her office!

Charlene - come over here and learn from the experts how great recruiting and Congo are done...

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Permalink Reply by Maureen Sharib on March 6, 2009 at 9:02am

It could also be called "Fight Club".

(That's two Steve - I'm done - I promise!)

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on March 6, 2009 at 9:54am

[Fight Club? heh heh]

Let me see... nope I didn't describe her as droll, passive, and unexceptionally stupid. I read her Recruiting and Retention posts (Maren, do you really think I'd comment without reading posts and links?) and there's nothing that is remarkable in these about recruiting. By her own admission (right Sharlyn?) she's an OD type of person; the reality is that is no shortage of recruiting convo and posts: 5,101,824 from this simple search. Here are recruiting related articles in the Financial Times.

I could pick every national/global paper and post large numbers of articles and even larger number of comments.

Her lack of convo comment is not reality.

Maren Hogan said:

I also know Ms. Sharlyn Lauby, who is a funny, feisty, extremely intelligent woman. Having read many of her columns before, I think she was referring to the lack of conversation in the general business and HR circles in which she is read. So I think her comment was that there is a lack of convo about recruiting right now which baffles her rather than a lack of conversation within the space...

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Permalink Reply by John Sumser on March 6, 2009 at 9:56am

Rule #1 in a great conversational forum is that you're allowed to really dislike anyone you want.
Rule #2 is that you probably have to let them have the last word.

I saw a debate the other night. (I occasionally go to see them; there's a tradition of public lecture/debate in San Francisco).

Each debater was deeply opposed to the other's POV. One was a genetic engineer who is pioneering open source experimentation. The other was an environmentalist who was terrified by the prospect of unleashed and unregulated designer biology. These folks were professionals at the heart of their professions. The biologist was a genius professor whose work spanned the Stanford and MIT labs. The environmentalist was the founder of a Greenpeace style organization whose name escapes me.

The ground rules were simple. First, you interviewed your opponent. Then, you articulated their argument to their satisfaction. Then you could critique away.

It was really interesting to watch two ardent advocates apply their energies to a conversation that began with an attempt to understand.

I think we captured some of that kind of energy in the discussions last week.

Maren is right. The really cool thing about this economic time and this social time is that we are writing the rules as we go along. Figuring out what works is a question of trying the next thing, figuring out whether or not it works and moving along.

RBC is a fantastic place in which to practice.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on March 6, 2009 at 10:03am

From The American President...remember this?

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on March 6, 2009 at 2:36pm

If you sit still and never move again, you die.

Boxer's win fights by using their jabs, setting the poor shmuck up for upper cuts, crosses, and haymakers.

Jab, jab, jab...

Rayanne said:

I think all of you are wrong, so there! ;-)

I am smiling furiously at the passion displayed on this site.
True RBC-ers recognize the responsibility they bear and also know when to let it go and shake hands. If there were no shake-ups, there would be no development. It's called disruption and it is vital to forward movement in any field. It is great that it is welcome and encouraged here.

Bring it on.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on March 6, 2009 at 2:48pm

Debate?

Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy . There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal. He'd have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy; if the Pope won, they'd have to convert or leave.

The Jewish people met and picked an aged and wise rabbi to represent them in the debate However, as the rabbi spoke no Italian, and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they agreed that it would be a 'silent' debate.

On the chosen day the Pope and rabbi sat opposite each other.

The Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers.

The rabbi looked back and raised one finger.

Next, the Pope waved his finger around his head.

The rabbi pointed to the ground where he sat.

The Pope brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine.

The rabbi pulled out an apple.

With that, the Pope stood up and declared himself beaten and said that the rabbi was too clever. The Jews could stay in Italy.

Later the cardinals met with the Pope and asked him what had happened.

The Pope said, "First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up a single finger to remind me there is still only one God common to both our beliefs.

"Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us.

"I pulled out the wine and water to show that God absolves us of all our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin. He bested me at every move and I could not continue."

Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the rabbi how he'd won.

"I haven't a clue," the rabbi said. "First, he told me that we had three days to get out of Italy , so I gave him the finger. Then he tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I told him that we were staying right here."

"And then what?" asked a woman.

"Who knows?" said the rabbi. "He took out his lunch so I took out mine."

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Permalink Reply by 01. Lonnie McRorey on March 6, 2009 at 3:02pm

Very funny and clever for this discussion.

Steve Levy said:

Debate?

Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy . There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal. He'd have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy; if the Pope won, they'd have to convert or leave.

The Jewish people met and picked an aged and wise rabbi to represent them in the debate However, as the rabbi spoke no Italian, and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they agreed that it would be a 'silent' debate.

On the chosen day the Pope and rabbi sat opposite each other.

The Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers.

The rabbi looked back and raised one finger.

Next, the Pope waved his finger around his head.

The rabbi pointed to the ground where he sat.

The Pope brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine.

The rabbi pulled out an apple.

With that, the Pope stood up and declared himself beaten and said that the rabbi was too clever. The Jews could stay in Italy.

Later the cardinals met with the Pope and asked him what had happened.

The Pope said, "First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up a single finger to remind me there is still only one God common to both our beliefs.

"Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us.

"I pulled out the wine and water to show that God absolves us of all our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin. He bested me at every move and I could not continue."

Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the rabbi how he'd won.

"I haven't a clue," the rabbi said. "First, he told me that we had three days to get out of Italy , so I gave him the finger. Then he tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I told him that we were staying right here."

"And then what?" asked a woman.

"Who knows?" said the rabbi. "He took out his lunch so I took out mine."

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on March 6, 2009 at 3:41pm

Lonnie, I'm touched that you would come into this discussion after reading my post. And I thought all you did was join groups and send out emails... ;)

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Permalink Reply by 01. Lonnie McRorey on March 6, 2009 at 4:09pm

Wish I had more time to add value to RBC however been busy with face to face client meetings and traveling. Do happen to lurk in from time to time to keep up with RBC culture. Will make an effort to add content.

Steve Levy said:

Lonnie, I'm touched that you would come into this discussion after reading my post. And I thought all you did was join groups and send out emails... ;)

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Permalink Reply by 01. Lonnie McRorey on March 6, 2009 at 4:14pm

A good boxer also has excellent foot work. Setting up the platform to deliver with maximum effect.

Steve Levy said:

If you sit still and never move again, you die.

Boxer's win fights by using their jabs, setting the poor shmuck up for upper cuts, crosses, and haymakers.

Jab, jab, jab...

Rayanne said:
I think all of you are wrong, so there! ;-)

I am smiling furiously at the passion displayed on this site.
True RBC-ers recognize the responsibility they bear and also know when to let it go and shake hands. If there were no shake-ups, there would be no development. It's called disruption and it is vital to forward movement in any field. It is great that it is welcome and encouraged here.

Bring it on.