Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 4, 2008 at 2:39pm

Of course. It’s a great question. I guess the easiest way to answer the question would be to say it’s just a way of networking that you have to buy into to fully understand. By forwarding requests on of people you are not personally connected to is ok. I forwarded 4 this afternoon. I simply read the intro if requested before doing so to ensure the sincerity of it. I have also rejected some as well.

The value in working your network this way is the connections it makes with others around the world. If I need to reach someone in your network, It’s would be extremely valuable to me for you to complete the connection. If that person wishes to refuse the connection that is their decision, although the vast majority according to LI accept in the name of networking.

This is an age old conversation since LI started and is like which came first. The chicken or the egg?

:)

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on June 4, 2008 at 2:44pm

If I were a plumber, doctor, artist or realtor I could see the value in sharing who I know. I'm in recruiting though. My contacts are my income. So to give my hiring managers names and contact info to every other recruiter on LinkedIn is not in my best interest, is it?

Not trying to keep this thing going any longer than necessary - but the question remains: why would a recruiter give every other recruiter his valuable paying client and candidate names?

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Permalink Reply by RecruiterGuy on June 4, 2008 at 2:53pm

Ryan, great response.

I'd be hard pressed not to point out that there is a major difference in RecruitingBlogs and LinkedIn. The most noticeable being that RecruitingBlogs is a "niche" or targeted network audience while LinkedIn, in it's raw form, is no more than a dressed up MySpace or Facebook (no focus - just networking.)

An example might be that I would not decline any friend requests on RecruitingBlogs.com, as I can assume they are recruiters or in the industry somehow and our interaction will be within the realm of recruiting since this niche network is what brought us together.

My approval criteria is very different on each network site - MySpace vs. Facebook vs. LinkedIn right down to whom I choose to follow on Twitter. Different channels, Different audiences, Different tools = Different standards.

I find LinkedIn much more valuable to me as a true networking tool - rather than a rolodex of contacts or recruiting prospects or clients. (keeping in mind that at times it can serve as both and that this is, of course, how I prefer to use it) Hence my considering LinkedIn much more sacred than a massive contact list of anyone interested in linking themselves to me or perusing my connections.

Of course all of this will change as LinkedIn continues down the path it's on now anyhow, right? ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 4, 2008 at 3:04pm

And that is a great explanation. Each tool requires a different strategy. FB and MYSP I am very particular on, however with LI, I tend to be more open and responsive to others. It’s all a matter of preference and your goal. With Twitter, I follow those that I need to in order to be connected to the right candidates. We are in the information gathering business and that s what all of these sites try to accomplish.

In regards to the previous post, I fell that the question have been answered. Honestly, I have over 3K 1st connections. Roughly 125 are client contacts all of which are paying clients, contract clients etc. If you are to worried about recruiters poaching contact names, them you probably do not have as strong a relationship with your contact as you think. Though you may feel this is creating competition for your billing, think of it this way. With over 40mil. Users, what makes your group them valuable that everyone else needs to zero in on?

If a recruiter is a good recruiter, he/she will find them if they want them. It’s not a secret in this day and age. Take Sourcecon for example…

A few points to help clarify your answer:

1. Your contacts are not your income. Your candidates are.
2. Your candidates are never secret, they will come up in any search, any time by any sourcer regardless
3. Being particular is not bad, it’s a preference. But sharing and giving back to your network is the only way to truly see value. (Contact Dave Mendoza and reference this string, he will definitely help to explain this.)
4. If you have stellar candidates your hiring managers will buy; plain and simple, and if you do not close them quick enough shame on you.

Woo...what a flury of responses... :)

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Permalink Reply by RecruiterGuy on June 4, 2008 at 3:11pm

"Your contacts are not your income. Your candidates are."

Can I nominate this as the quote of the day? :-D

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 4, 2008 at 3:21pm

:p - I second that nomination! :)

It's the truth though. HM's are simply not loyal regardless of your relationship. Why? Because they will go to the best candidate available at that time. If you have it, they will buy.

Heck, if you have a contact that will take and pay for a B candidate over my A+ candidate simply because of your relationship.....You should be heading up you firm's BD team, heck you can head mine.

Talk to you later

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Permalink Reply by pam claughton on June 4, 2008 at 3:27pm

Ryan,

Hiding your network only means people can't view your entire network and browse through all your contacts. They can still do searches and see your 'hidden' candidates easily that way. I am fine with people searching my network, but I'm not inclined to lay my contacts out for easy viewing, why would I want to do that especially for other recruiters? This way anyone has access but they need to do a bit of work to get the data.

:)

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 4, 2008 at 3:37pm

Take a read through and you will find my response to that in a previous post. It's simply a way of netowrking. It almost seems like some recruiters are trying to be 007 in there ways, and it seems liek a thrilling game.

I can care less either way. If I need a candidate, my network is vast enough and giving enough that I will find the right person.

good recruiting!

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Permalink Reply by Brian on June 8, 2008 at 4:00pm

It sounds to me to be an amateur move that is very common in sales. People get so hungry for the incoming contacts they simply forget that there may be a right way and a wrong way to go about establishing them. I hade to learn it first hand when I started in sales and my managers all pushed me to get referals from every appointment I sat at. I felt quit the asshole in doing so, today I VERY RARELY ask for referals. I think the main reason for it is that I fully aknowledge the personal risks that the person in the middle subjects themselves to.

Best Regards,
Brian

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Permalink Reply by Jim Canto on June 8, 2008 at 6:45pm

Yeh buddy! I'll second "third" that motion RecruiterGuy. I've built an entire operation around that concept. It's another "Chicken or the Egg" question. It's amazing how many folks still say; "I've never had a candidate write me a check".

However, if one has the candidate and no job requisition for them... they are still out of luck. That is simply to say I understand both sides of the coin.

I still "third" your motion for Quote of the Day.

- Jim

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 8, 2008 at 10:41pm

Brian,

I understand your pain here as well. Snooping simply for a referral simply for more business is not helping you at all. However, rarely asking for referrals is probably not a great practice. I am not sure what you are working with in the ay of business, but keep in mind in general, "good people no good people". If you are not capitalizing on this, you are seriously missing the boat. if you are an agency or retained recruiter, your are seriously missing out of on some outstanding commissions.

What it boils down to is relationships. Asking for referral 10 minutes into a conversation obviously is not a good practice, and it seems like you manager from before was simply pushing you to get 30 referals a day from all of your appointments, so I undersatnd. But with a matured and established relationship, your business partner should be more than willing to assist you in the way of referrals, and they are typically the ones that are winners, and generally get to a closed deal much quicker and smoother than others. It's an outstanding practice when mastered and can lead to many happy buisness deals.

My .02

Good Luck!

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 8, 2008 at 10:50pm

Agreed.... but it is those same people without the job order or req, that need to learn how to leverage an A+ candidate to make a sale. It's obvious you understand that by your comments, but it bothers me that too often, recruiters in an agency format are afraid to pick the phone up and market candidates.

I'm not a genius by any stretch, but I would have to say that the majority of my placements in agency were through skill marketing and creating the need with clients. Again, it come down to relationships, and when you have a solid relationship with your client, you know their business and trends and can find areas to create needs; permanent or contract, maybe both.

“Your contacts are not your income. Your candidates are."

I have always said this to recruiters I’ve worked with because in my eyes it’s true and quite frankly how If you are waiting for a client to call, you are going to be broke at the end of the month; it’s that simple.

Ryan

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