Here are some ideas that I have tried recently that have found the hard to find needle in a haystack - trust me they work the miracles when the chips are down and you need to find your rock star diamond hidden in the rough:

Candidate pipelining - build the network and they will come - on LinkedIn join user groups of which you can have 50 - create a compelling blog which lists your latest opportunities and post to the user groups every two weeks.  Soon compelling candidates…

A great question that has come to mind for me in successive months is - what if? 

I have pondered the reasons why certain things happen and why others apart from every controlled factor I put into place don't go according to plan? 

And then I ponder what if.....dot, dot, dot, or fill in the blank.....

I have to sit back and ponder this very remarkable question, why do certain things happen when everything I put into place and desired can only…

Do you still believe?  Do you still have hope?  Do you still have the ability to find your inward drive to deliver?  The economy is improving, but challenges still exist, the latest SHRM Line Report says it all, while 2010 was a year of improvements we are still 5% below pre-recession highs.  Improvements have been modest, hiring has been tough decision making for leaders of companies as they make tough decisions and hire contractors and supplementary staff with the stringent standards once…

It was a year ago when I sat in a conference where I met the legendary Jack Canfield, CEO and Founder of the "Chicken Soup For the Soul" Franchise and Books, and author of many books including "The Success Principles - How you Get From Where You Are to Where You Want To Be".  On that day, I shook hands with Mr. Canfield and got to receive an autograph from this giant among men in my copy of his book, which I received for free as a part of this conference, the best part - I was among fellow…

You know what, earlier this year I reached my 2500th connection on LinkedIn, as I saw that I thought whoa, how did THAT happen?  Well by utilizing my networking strategy which harnessed a network so vast that it's value to me has never been more pronounced, on any given day - I come up in about 45 searches, and have about 20 people looking at my LinkedIn profile.  That's almost 140 hits a week and that there are solid folks I can check on to see where they come from and due to my $25 premium…

Change.  It's a word that sparks both intrigue and delight, irritation and zest, as well puts on the table very interesting circumstances.  This week my work prepares for an office change, and with it comes intriguing moments that will test our courage as we accept the new, and let die the old.  The past is behind us, and we have a gift of now.  Here are some quotes that caught my eye on change this week:

"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to…

Take it from a HR Professional, HR and Staffing are one. How? Why? Because in order for your HR department to add its maximum value, you must realize that Staffing and HR are joined at the hip. HR Managers, and Directors need to be connected to their recruiters, and Hiring Managers need to partner as one in order to reduce time to fill, and increase the performance metrics that are needed to find great talent. It is so key to know each other, to keep that department chugging along at its…

It happened this week, in some interesting way the challenges were there, my colleagues needed a freindly and positive outlook to spur them on their way.  Recruiters are much like sales people, they both need an inspirational word now and then.  As well my fellow sourcers on my team needed a pick me up, as one got down on himself, and another is new finding his way.  I am one who has to manage my desk in such a way as to lift others up.  Such a powerful thing is positive energy - case in…

A fresh look, and a new perspective, a new dawning and renewal of continuous zest for life, and an eye on the goal in all scenarios.  There is no secret that life adds a great twist and turn when we least expect it.  But each new day is like a gift.  Mistakes made yesterday can be made a new perspective of.  They can be buried in the wide swath of the past.  Brilliance is not a sometime thing, it is an everytime thing. 

As I arrived home from work this day, I thought how…

Your Network - personal, LinkedIn, professional, and degrees out from you.  It is about to make a company go public - LinkedIn, it has launched careers, and lent itself to the utmost results in tough searches.  The larger your network, the more valuable your reach.

I can't tell you how many times a referrel, or business contact has turned into the "Silver Bullet" that cracks open the hires and makes viable outcomes possible.  Your network is to be treated with care, given the…

Ahh, this song by Dave Matthews band, it is perhaps a description of February for me.  I quote:

So that is a perfect description of how I start my day and how 1 day rolls to the next, and then this as Dave…

Change.  It could be classified as an irritant, and it can be classified as a help.  It certainly puts itself right smack dab in the middle of any choices you make as if it had all the trimmings for your journey in life.  You are flowing along, things are working well, and then BOOM - a change comes mighty and stubborn setting itself in your path like a nice giant boulder.  Now you can be the one pushing the boulder or be on the other side and get crushed, I'd like to think this little…

Bzzzzzzz.  Bzzzzzz.  That's the sound of a busy bee.  Click, send, click, send, click, send, new string, new search, click, send, click, send, all while rocking out to some good country music.  Now that is the fun of being a busy sourcing bee.  These days my desk is full from 1 side to the other with Job Descriptions galore, and highlighter gone haywire on every keyword, and key point in my VMS client's good and bad written JD's. 

Ahh, the Job Description - welcome to…

Okay.  So this particular topic has been itching to get out and it has been driving me nuts.  Quite frankly, I just can't stand it when I hear people being referred to as Resources, Capital, or anything other than a Human.  Does that not bother anyone in staffing.  I mean come on now.  We are looking for people to fill a project or two, or a long term career interest, and a marriage of two happy customers in a business relationship.  We aren't talking about a piece of equipment here…

The time has come.  It will be a year unlike any I have seen in my life to date.  So full of hope, so full of promise, and with an incredible amount of opportunity.  This picture shows one of my favorite places in San Jose.  Belgatos Park.  It is here on a hill before you reach a San Jose Mountain known as Mt. Umuhnum, you can turn around, and find the beauty that propels…

It's official! Long term perspective is the key to success in life no matter what your endeavor. I think this blog post has been in the works in my brain for sometime, as I have witnessed changes in my life whizzing by me like a crazy race car. Vroom, Vroom, start your engines. No matter our undertaking, it is important as we begin to think about our New Years resolutions, and celebrate the…

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going to Valco Mall with my sweet daughter in Cupertino, CA. The wonder in her eyes, as she explored a new place, complete with Christmas decorations, and running from store to store, with a broad smile, energy, and enjoyment made me remember what it was like to be a child, and have the spirit of Christmas, of Thanksgiving every day - and while as an adult I have this now, it is amazing how a child can always be happy, and how it doesn't take much to find the…

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going to Valco Mall with my sweet daughter in Cupertino, CA. The wonder in her eyes, as she explored a new place, complete with Christmas decorations, and running from store to store, with a broad smile, energy, and enjoyment made me remember what it was like to be a child, and have the spirit of Christmas, of Thanksgiving every day - and while as an adult I have this now, it is amazing how a child can always be happy, and how it doesn't take much to find the…

Earlier this year, I analyzed what I called the Economic Mt Everest. I find it interesting to keep an eye out on very key economic indicators. The economy has certainly been a challenge for many, with frustrated job seekers seeking assistance. I know I have been one of those staffing professionals turned career counselor, and using my knowledge of social media techniques to help job seekers find their way. It has been a very interesting time. There are some interesting statistics that both…

This was the sign that greeted me on July 1st, 2010, as I reached one the crown jewels of my vacation. I was headed to a family reunion, that would propel me through Yosemite, and onward to Lake Tahoe. It was in Yosemite I had a chance to remember when as a young man, of 10, that visit that had changed my life. I had at that time had the privilege of a Memorial Day weekend trip with my family. On this day, I was on a journey to greet my wife…