Skirt Shopping. Not as bad as shopping for jeans or the dreaded bathing suit cavalcade every Spring but pert near close. I love a great black skirt. But I don't love spending a lot of time finding one. They are either always too short (I have long legs) or they just don't fit quite right. I recently stepped into a mall with my debit card in hand and decided to try on a few skirts and see if I could actually make a wise and practical purchase. And as it turns out, I could. But not without a few stumbles.

My first stop was overseen by a rambunctious salesperson who felt it necessary to hover and consistently make poor suggestions and provide sappy compliments. I left without a card swipe - thankfully I did not succumb to the overwhelming amount of sugar she was dishing out. My second stop proved just as unsuccessful, mostly because I was completely ignored by the sales staff. I was feeling a bit like Goldilocks at this point - this bowl of porridge was too hot, this one was too cold.

My third stop - Triumph! A young salesperson greeted me as I entered the store and asked if she could help me find anything. I meekly and simply replied, "Black skirt." She said, "Right this way, business or casual?" "Business..., and not too short." "Certainly, as a matter of fact, we have several selections that went on sale today." Now, those are the words I love to hear. She kept a respectful distance, took my choices to a fitting room and was the perfect host. I left the store with four perfectly different black skirts in tow. And having just paid off my last credit card, it was easy to refuse the request to fill out a new credit card application. I had found my perfect bowl of porridge.

What was the difference? All three stores had the same, above average quality, all well-known for their service and business-wear selections. But the tone of the experience was different in each. While I had received attention at my first stop, it was the wrong kind and my needs had not been anticipated very well - in fact, rather poorly and emphatically. The second store, nothing... "Hello -lo -lo? Anyone there-ere-ere?"

How do your clients/customers/hiring managers perceive you? Do they dread your calls, are you putting the wrong candidates in front of them? Are you wasting their time? Are you calling them at all? Are you following up or delivering quality service as initially claimed? We've all seen and heard the classic complaint about hiring managers that are difficult to reach or who fail to return calls. Plenty of hiring managers and clients have heard or been the recipient of their fair share of disappointing recruiter stories. What expectations have been set from the very beginning by both sides?

I, personally, like my porridge hot and with just the right amount of sweetness. And well, so do my hiring managers.


© by rayannethorn