It would be easy to rattle off what I believe my future in recruiting is going to be, if I were confident that the industry would not be changing as often as my tweetdeck chirps. In order for me to fully understand where my future lies, I must come to grips with my past. Remembering and understanding my history in this continually evolving sport is imperative if I am to remain active and considered a true participant.

I spent several years as a retained, executive recruiter. The client relationship development experience set the tone for how I work in this industry. I consistently refused the hard sale side of the biz because it was difficult for me to connect a dollar sign to the relationships I worked so hard to develop. I loved making those connections and being an integral part of the companies that engaged with me. I used the phrase all the time, "I am an extension of my client's HR department." I learned many hard lessons that are now embedded in my recruiting psyche. Most are good, some hold me back. Ways for me to continue developing, I suppose.

I consider my time on the other side of the fence as a corporate recruiter as the single, greatest working experience of my life. I gained knowledge and experience that has rounded off corners and opened doors to which I didn't even know I had keys. Recruiters now called me. It was difficult for me to say, "My recruiting dollars pay my salary, sorry." But I said it, often.

Finding myself in a third-party/contingency agency became an education on the importance of speed. I also learned the sad fact that hiring managers don't care how hard you work as long as you produce. And if you don't produce, there is a long line of others who will, so you better.

The opportunity to dwell for a time in each of these worlds has created a base for my future. The recruiting industry has had to adapt to consistently changing technology. Phone, mail, Fed-Ex, fax, email, texting, tweeting. Speeds of information disbursement are "virtually" out of control. Getting caught up in the next advancement risks wisdom gained. People are more than fingers on a keyboard. I will remind you of that over and over again. That may be my future. Then again, I haven't dipped my toes in vendor waters yet...


by rayannethorn