Astrologer makes a $35,000 placement...

Or did he...

I'll start by saying that I am not an astrologer nor do I understand the first thing outside of the fact that I am a Virgo and that Virgo begins with a V.

I attended a wedding this past weekend and was introduced to a family members "friend". He was a bit older most likely in his 80's. To start a conversation he asked what I do for a living. I kept it simple and told him that I am a recruiter.

The rest of the night was history as he proclaimed that Astrology is and should be the backbone of the recruitment industry. That recruiters would be able to measure the value of a candidate much deeper than that of the general employment assessment.

He asked me for a nominal placement fee. I responded $35K. He asked what the value of an assessment is for a mid size company. I am not sure of that cost but he did dance around the numbers trying to make a point.

He said that an Astrologer would prevent 9 out of 10 hired candidates from quitting their jobs, allowing the recruiter to maintain his/her fee. That is something that an assessment cannot measure.

It was a weird conversation but it got me thinking. How valuable are assessments and does he have a point?

I am very curious to get everyone's story / experience with this?

Comment by Vipul Agarwal on October 3, 2012 at 9:48am: I have heard of organizations using assessments and not making great hires AND I have also heard of a couple of organizations who hire based in Astrology AND/OR Handwriting Analyses. Now hows that for another point in the mixer.... :) (Not tracked their hire quality or retention though - so can't say much on that)

Comment by Vipul Agarwal on October 3, 2012 at 9:50am: Oh and BTW there is a person who knows he can read personality traits from Palmistry and that his services should be used for hiring and promotions :D

Comment by Tiffany Branch on October 3, 2012 at 9:57am: I think I can start a new career in astrology based recruiting. Do you think anyone will pay for my services??? LOL

Comment by Andrew Hanneman on October 3, 2012 at 10:10am: I make my assesment when a candidates leaves a message for me on my voicemail returning my initial call to them and they fail to leave a name or number. "Hi I got a call from you yesterday about job I sent you my information on, please give me a call back, I am still very interested". I got 2 messages near identical from that this morning.

Comment by Barbara Goldman on October 6, 2012 at 12:50pm: I can't stop laughing. The story was charming, the old coot, at a wedding, his suggestions to use astrology read like the first scenes of a movie, a nice set up for a comedy.

Comment by Ryan Leary on October 6, 2012 at 2:39pm: @Barbara, it was awkward but charming yes. The topper to it all is when they delivered the wedding cake to the table. My wife and I were dancing. We returned to the table and my mother said not to eat the cake. I asked her if it was that bad. She laughed and said no.... That guy took a bite of Erica's (my wife) cake and left the rest on her plate....

The guy was weird but the topic was interesting.