Josh,

Hope you are doing well. All your kind words are appreciated. Please don't hesitate to reach out if I can ever be of assistance.

All the best,

Julia

Josh,
InterviewBest is still operational. However, we are expanding to a new and larger web site and the URL is being transferred over so the site is down. I am holding my breath and hoping it will come on line soon. It has to do with how fast the Domain gods switch the URL over.

Nah, no need for you to censor, you responded based upon limited information. I do believe though that Jim should consider taking his video and post down. The more I think about it, the more dismayed I am by it.

Josh - Good to connect with you here. Hopefully we will get an opportunity to catch up in person sometime this year. As for my response, I just felt that Jim's post was way out of line, and way out of proportion to what Bob had wrote. Bob is a good guy and doesn't deserve to be called out like that for what is really ultimately a difference in opinion.

I am the “Admin” for the Recruiters On LinkedIn group, www.recruitingblogs.com/group/linkedin. You have recently joined and this is a "welcome" to the group and "here is how it works".

Over the past year I have been experimenting how best to facilitate members being able to connect with each other. Some want to connect with everyone and some are looking for a few meaningful connections.

1-2 times per week I send a group introduction message with 10-15 new members and reintroducing others.

What this means for you is simple, do you wish to be introduced to the group?

You have 4 options from which to choose:

(A) “Open Networker” with name, email address, and LinkedIn URL as you want to connect with anyone and everyone.

(B) “General Introduction” with name and LinkedIn URL as you are specific about who you want to connect with.

(C) “Lurker” no announcement will be made as you want to be on the sidelines connecting with people as you wish.

(D) “Super Open Networker” which is (A) plus having your contact information on the group page.

A caution on the “Open Networker”, you may be inundated with invitations to connect. For some this is exactly what they are hoping for and others this could be a pain.

I do ask, if you receive invitations from members you do not want to connect with that you “Archive” the message versus “I don’t know” so the sender is not penalized by LinkedIn although how you handle this is up to you.

Again your options are (A), (B), (C), (D).

Please include your LinkedIn URL and email address you prefer to receive invitations and send to paul@mnheadhunter.com

Thank you for your time.

P.

I just accepted your linkedin invitation. Glad to find you here. Please add me as friend so we can keep up with each other's news.

To your success,
Maya Walker

Sorry I missed your note. Yeah, my dog is is very cool looking. He turned out to be wicked agile and smart ...I think he believes he is one of those border collies.

Hey Josh - missed you today. Re CRM - that was the outcome from the last TTC discussion - not simply a personal endorsement. The group identified technology as the most important influencer/sign of progress in staffing. The conclusion today in digging deeper into CRM was the importance of the "AND". CRM is a single tool. We didn't dive very deep but my takeaway is that if recruiters - corp and 3rd party, want to differentiate their brand/company and job seeker experience to improve hiring there needs to be better communication, relationship management and information. CRM is the tool to make that happen. Adding CRM to a recruitment strategy addresses this more so than anything else today. Its not a replacement for the basic tools but facilitates. Of course, having a solid strategy, process and talent philosophy in place is not an option. CRM does not solve the absence of these things and how they play out in the hiring process.

Thanks so much for the kind words!

Hi, Animal - I realized I never read the original post you had referred to . . . and when I did, I realized the post's content wasn't about being a salesman versus not being a salesman. It was more about making good offers that show a candidate respect instead of closing them at their bottom dollar. Things rings a bell with me because I have a client who will cut throats to save $1000 on a deal. Every placement is a battle with them because they're so cheap.

In all honesty, my life would be a lot easier making placements if clients weren't always trying to make offers at the exact point of perfect pricing (i.e. $1 less and they don't accept; $1 more and we are throwing money out the window . . . etc.). Entry-level TPRs don't understand this, and many entry-level HR Recruiters don't either . . . I often see ourselves being labled as trying to 'get more' out of the hiring company to increase our fee. Nothing could be further from the truth. I mean, 25% on $2000 (to make a candidate very, very, very happy and feel they have a solid offer from a company that loves them) is peanuts to us . . . but makes all the difference in the onboarding psychology of the candidate. Would you agree?

However, if I remember right, what I was alluding to is how great recruiters are salespeople, first and foremost (although, again, I don't think the original post was about salesmanship - it was more about doing the right thing and not trying to squeeze every last penny out of an offer; know what I mean?) The analogy I made (if I remember right) was how great recruiters understand that they have to hustle . . . they have to stay on the grind . . . just like lil' Duffle-Bag Boy on the corner slingin' rocks. Now, that's not to say we have to *act/behave* like a dealer (used car or drugs, etc.) . . . but it means we have to always have our wheels turning mentally . . . and we have to be as opportunistic as we can.

Anyway, in closing, I realized I should have read the original post before posting a jokin-response first! I say that because I was more playing with you (knowing you'd laugh or refute me :) ) instead of actually reading the original post first. Shame on me for that :) I was moreover trying to get a joke going with you! :)

Hey where is the original comment on the defence of salesmen posting? I was going to use it in a follow up.

Hey Josh, Thanks for your feedback in the Rant string. I appreciate it.

See you around.
- Jim

Josh,

I've enjoyed your last couple posts, very good dialog and honest. It would be great to connect and follow your posts in the future.

Jonathan

Very cool - I look forward to it. And would def like to be on a panel with you if there's an opp. Hmmm - missed that ERE comment. There's more and more overlap but I think the audiences are a bit different so the content is different as well. I am a bit biased as I've always felt very fortunate that ERE came around when it did and that I've learned so much from the contributors...and have enjoyed contributing.

cool! I'm following you now. Twitter search doesn't work too well. Also, google your name + twitter to see search results.

Re your list = a diverse took kit. Absolutely all of those tools +Twitter is what builds a great strategy. Managing them all is another story ;-).

Are you going to be at ERE or Kennedy in the Fall? Would be great to take the online conversation offline over dinner and a great glass of wine...or, beverage of choice!

Have a great 4th and enjoy the long weekend!

Just shared your IBM video on Twitter with credit to you. When are you going to take the Twitter dive?

Josh - good question on the female, male, generation pull to social. There's more evidence coming out that social is more geared towards women because they tend to be more social. I don't totally buy it and think it is more about areas of interest. I did a study on the demographics of social sites and while most are skewed towards women some are not - badoo, orkut and ning (which is interesting because of the niche sites) are a few examples. Twitter is more balanced than others and attracts a wider age distribution as well. Its easy to say a lot and yes, that appeals more to women, personally, that's not me. There are also differences in preferred content - text Vs video. I think it will be interesting to see how social will continue to evolve and ask great questions like this to better understand the audience and finesse the strategy and approach.

Great blog Josh, very good stuff!

Hi Josh - very happy to connect with you. I look forward to more of your insights. Make it a good day.