What the smartest people in recruitment told me last week…

I was at the RCSA Conference in Fiji last week. As a speaker, but also as an attendee. And I took some notes, trying to capture the highlights. I share these with you today. Enjoy.

(I, of course, also said dozens of fascinating things, but today, I shine the light elsewhere). :)

Mike Walsh

Think New. Think Big. Think Quick.
The key to understanding the future is to understand your own children. Kids born after 2007, when the iPhone was launched, have never been off the internet.
The new generation seldom make decisions in advance because they make decisions in real-time. And they will make work and job search decisions in same way.
The next generation will have a radically different approach to work, shaped by a childhood of disruptive technologies.
‘Knowing things’ is not important anymore. Having a network that gives you answers is more important.
Disruptive technology always targets the middleman (like recruiters!).
The new science of marketing – compelling digital content – attracts customers.
Hire more DARCs–Digital natives, Analytical, Reach (networks), Content (able to write).
Don’t let the future surprise you.

Bridget Beattie

Classic systematic networking is the most effective way to find a job.

Paul Slezak

The recruiter of the future needs to be less pompous. More human.

David Arkless

The economy in Europe is rubbish. In Asia it is anemic. In the USA, flatulent.
We are moving out of the technology age – into the human age.
We need to identify what are humans good at, compared to machines.
I don’t care how good your technology is, your systems. Without the right people, you won’t be successful.
Indonesia is only HALF as corrupt as it used to be… and boy is it corrupt!

Rachel Botsman

Reputation on the Internet will become more powerful than your credit history in the 21st century.
The resume will be dead in 5 – 10 years. Reputation will be key.

Chris Savage

Take action. Done is better than perfect.
People will not remember what you said, or what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.
Feedback is the food of champions.
We all have special talent. Always be leveraging yours.
The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

Nicole Underwood

To implement workplace flexibility, as a leader you need to lead by example.

Avril Henry

If you don’t get the people stuff right. You won’t have a workforce.
Baby Boomers left home at 17. Mainly so they could have sex.
By 2020 40% of the Australian workforce will be made up of Gen Y’s.

There were other great speakers, but I did not attend all sessions and may have missed a bit after the Bollywood dinner party too…

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Comment by Isaac Kelly on September 5, 2012 at 8:07am: Thanks for sharing these! These are good points!

Comment by Greg Savage on September 5, 2012 at 8:08am: Thanks Isaac..it was a very good Conference

Comment by bill josephson on September 5, 2012 at 8:41am: My only question is with increasing numbers of skilled TRP recruiters heading in house using technology/social media and more frequently directly recruiting into companies seeking passive/invisible candidates TPR's have customarily looked for, how do Third Party Recruiters differentiate themselves from in house recruiters, and what exactly is the future of Third Party Recruiters in peoples' opinions?

Clearly, we're still getting the 90 day old assignments internals couldn't fill either due to their degree of difficulty or impossibility to fill. Fewer and tougher assignments to work on.

Comment by Guy Swain on September 5, 2012 at 8:49am: "The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary." Priceless!

Thanks for sharing Greg.

Comment by Greg Savage on September 5, 2012 at 8:52am: Cheers Guy...the speaker actually attributed that quote to Vidal Sassoon, the legendary hairdresser

Comment by Darryl Dioso on September 5, 2012 at 10:11am: "Baby Boomers left home at 17. Mainly so they could have sex."

LOL

Comment by Jerry Albright on September 5, 2012 at 11:41am: I think Mike Walsh and I would have to disagree on most of his insight.

Think New. Think Big. Think Quick.

That right there might be the trouble with many of the recruiters I've known who have thrown in the towel the past 2 or 3 years. Thinking "too" big. Chasing all this "new" crap. Thinking (and reactin) too quickly. Slow down people - it's the small things, one at a time - all in a row - that bring success.

The new generation seldom make decisions in advance because they make decisions in real-time. And they will make work and job search decisions in same way.

I'm not even sure if this actually means anything. The new generation makes all their decisions in real time, without any sort of reflection or thought process? I don't get this one. Sorry.

The next generation will have a radically different approach to work, shaped by a childhood of disruptive technologies.

While cat pics on Facebook and a non-stop stream of Twitter links and Farmville requests sure is quite appealing - the "next generation" better learn how to pay attention and get their work done - or get used to their mom's basement.

Knowing things’ is not important anymore. Having a network that gives you answers is more important.

This has me laughing. So now - it doesn't matter if you know how to code - or design a machine - you just have to jump into your Linkedin "community" and get the answers there? Funny.....

Comment by Peter Ceccarelli on September 5, 2012 at 4:18pm: Knowing things’ is not important anymore. Having a network that gives you answers is more important.

So I guess they don't play words with friends then. They'd never be able to come up with the correct letters to even make a word! Bummer. Missing out on a lot!