Art Pitcher's Blog (19)

Chirp Chirp TWEET! I dun went n' did it!

Based on two noteworthy items:

#1 - how frequently it is discussed here

and

#2 - how ABSOLUTELY addicting it is

I started a Twitter account. Yes, I even downloaded a Twitter app to my Blackberry.

So if you're so inclined, feel free to add me: Art_Pitcher

Or is the correct syntax: @Art_Pitcher ?

Also, if you're on there and find it valuable, let me know and I'll add you too!

I dunno 'bout all this yet. A man has to chirp… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on April 2, 2009 at 3:17pm — 6 Comments

My take on MPC Candidates

This is a response I wrote to a question on linkedin a few months back.

An MPC has to have it all there in the first place - the skills, the work history, realistic compensation expectations.

However, here is what seperates an MPC from just a good candidate - in other words, someone I'm going to spend TIME marketing....

1. Loyalty and exclusivity. I ask my potential MPC's for 2 to 5 day EXCLUSIVITY - in other words, someone my competition can't deliver to the… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on December 17, 2008 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Recruiting takes a holiday? NEVER!

Recruiting takes a holiday – leverage your position!

Woo-Hoo – a Holiday, Right? I mean, you’re probably thinking about staying up all night Sunday (probably trying some Jello Shot recipes) watching the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon and closing Monday afternoon out with a BBQ.

I don’t blame you. Before I was a big biller that’s how I spent my holiday time,… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on August 28, 2008 at 11:11am — 1 Comment

Well, it IS Friday - can you say "Jello Shots"?

Now don't get the impression I'm encouraging you to overdo this weekend, and certainly don't think that I will (I'm very conservative you know).

That being said (because everything on the net is immortal), here are some suggestions for you on how you might choose to spend your evening:

Traditional Jello Shots

10oz Vodka

2 (3 oz) packages of Jello

2 cups boiling water

1 cup cold water

Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. Dissolve… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on August 22, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

What the Boy Scouts taught me about Recruiting

What the Boy Scouts taught me about Recruiting

by: Art Pitcher

A short but sweet reminder to those of you who make it difficult for the rest of us.

When I was in the Boy Scouts I learned a thing or two about making sure whoever follows me feels warm and invited. What I mean is this:

When Camping, I learned that after I COMPLETELY extinguish my fire and clean up ALL my trash from my campsite, I should leave a nice little pile of wood and… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on August 20, 2008 at 9:00am — 1 Comment

The 30/30/40 rule and why it MATTERS!

The 30/30/40 rule really separates the winners from the losers.

How well someone understands this rule sorts the mediocre recruiter from those at Presidents Club, seperates the wheat from the chaff, and makes or breaks careers in our industry.

The thing is, though, it's so simple - people don't get it.

THE 30/30/40 RULE

30% of the people you meet are going to like you right away, for a reason they can't… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on August 19, 2008 at 9:00am — 5 Comments

Email Sourcing? You bet!

What?!?

Q: But Art, isn't email sourcing in the domain of lazy recruiterdom?

A: If you can reach more ppl with a tool you're NOT using - THAT'S lazy!

For some reason, a couple of times a month someone will give me a referral to someone I'm looking for by senging me an email with a name and an email address - no other information.

I actually know the reason.

The people providing the information for me are very… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on August 11, 2008 at 7:00am — 10 Comments

Paying Referral Fees

Okay, so I recently changed my long-time standpoint on this.

If I'm recruiting for a real Purple Squirrel or asking a LOT from potential candidates (for example, I'm currently performing a confidential search for a client in which I cannot divulge the company, the location or the specific job title - and neither do they in the phone screen) I think ultimately it's worth it to make a spliff available if someone helps close a deal by directing me to my superstar.

However,… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on August 8, 2008 at 4:25pm — 1 Comment

Show me some LOVE - Scott! Teleconference.

So, we signed our office up for Scott Love's teleconference on passive candidates for tomorrow.

You can expect a complete review right here within a short time after the teleconference.

So Scott - knock our socks off, plzkthx.

Happy Hunting!

Art Pitcher

Added by Art Pitcher on July 30, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Blog vs. Blog

So I had this sudden realization that my blog here is geared toward professionals in the recruiting industry. While I think that's absolutely fantastic and a great way for us all to share best practices, I really want different content for my customers (clients and candidates) more geared toward their needs/wants.

To this end, I started a new blog:

http://theartofrecruiting.wordpress.com

I'm curious what everyone's opinion is about that, if you think it's… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on July 15, 2008 at 4:32pm — No Comments

The 12 Rules of ART - Part 3 of 12

Part 3 is about the delicate line between planning and over-planning:

“Winning is Accomplished Equally in the Preparation and Execution Phases” - Dr. Robert Anthony

In my experience, people who fail in our industry either spend all of their time in the preparation phase, developing an overly complex plan they become obsessed with – almost as if it’s a shield to keep them from DOING anything – or they fail to plan anything and produce a… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on June 25, 2008 at 2:12pm — No Comments

I won an iPod and the audio book "Big Biller" from XtremeRecruiting.tv

http://www.recruitingblogs.com/group/xtremerecruiting

You can read the question and my response here:

http://www.recruitingblogs.com/group/xtremerecruiting/forum/topic/show?id=502551%3ATopic%3A153513

If you haven't poked around their site to see what they offer, I suggest you do.

And of course, after I receive my iPod with "Big Biller" on it, you can look forward to a review of the book right here in my blog :)

Happy… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on June 19, 2008 at 12:00pm — No Comments

I survived the Recruiting Animal!

Sure, some say he was nice on me, even though I was SURE he was lurking... just waiting to HAMMER me.

Some say he should have investigated my threat against Shannon Underhill* more deeply.

But everyone agrees it sounded fun.

Either way, here is a nice link to check it out on your own:

-Art

* Before everything thinks I'm an abuser of some kind - I threatened Shannon that if she didn't give me Job… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on June 18, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

The 12 Rules of ART - Part 2 of 12

So we find ourselves gracefully at rule #2:

"Never Take a NO From Someone Who Can’t Give You a YES" - Unknown

Okay, so I’m not going to get all Alec Baldwin on you, but for us the name of this game is recruiting so you should ALWAYS be doing it.

A=Always

B=Be

C=Closing

R=Recruiting

I try to leverage every conversation I have (ref. rule #6)… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on June 17, 2008 at 9:30am — No Comments

The Recruiting Animal Show

In either the smartest or dumbest move I've made this week, I have accepted an invite to be on The Recruiting Animal show on Wednesday, June 18th.

Although I am just getting into the 12 Rules here I hope to be able to give an overview on them at some point on the show.

I'm sure the Animal will hammer me about something - so for those of you not used to hearing me stammer, you might want to tune in LOL!

All in all, I think it will be a blast. Can't lose when it's… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on June 16, 2008 at 12:24pm — No Comments

The 12 Rules of ART – Part 1 of 12

"If you argue for your limitations..... you get to keep them!" - (From Jonathan Livingston Seagull)

A few years ago a short book came out that swept the corporate world as a whole. In fact, my corporate office sent me a box of them for my staff and even some to distribute to my clients (which was a nice thought, but ultimately most of them already had it from THEIR corporate office). The book was called “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson, and… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on June 11, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

About the 12 Rules of ART

"The 12 Rules of ART" are a series of action guidelines I have adopted over the last 15 years in this business, which together form a functional roadmap of my core business philosophies, strategies and practices. Some of them I coined and some of them I stole, but all of them are good.

I have decided to share them with all of you here at recruitingblogs as a way to thank and repay you for all the great motivation and techniques I find here every day. I hope you find some value in… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on June 11, 2008 at 12:52pm — No Comments

When candidates hate companies.....

Recruiting on a developer position, I found the right guy and spend the time qualifying him. I have a list of where he's interviewing and my client isn't on it. Excellent sign because I know they're competitive when it comes to their packages and the rest on his list are so/so. He emails me to ask the name of the company and I reply. This is his response:

"Oh god no! [edited] is the anti-christ. I have (and many developers I know) avoid that company like the plague. I would rather… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on June 5, 2008 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Brave New World

With the advent of new technologies, such as blogs, podcasts and vlogs, it is even more important for the self promoting recruiter to maintain an active presence. Because I recognize this, I try my best to stay connected through social networking, etc.

This is why I'm here.

So, to my old friends and especially the friends I've yet to meet, allow me to say; "Hello!"

I first entered the business in 1993 at Olsten in Phoenix, AZ. Since that time I… Continue

Added by Art Pitcher on May 30, 2008 at 12:13pm — No Comments