A Recruiters remix of Princes’ “Purple Rain”

Many of us music lovers were devastated at the news that Prince had passed away so suddenly last week. In honor of his famous song “Purple Rain”, I wanted to pay homage by sharing my thoughts on the recruiters’ famous “Purple Squirrel.” Working in the industry of recruitment, we can all relate to when the client sends us on the Purple Squirrel hunt. We gather the requirements and set off on our journey of finding the ideal candidate whose background checks all the boxes, yet to come up empty handed a week later with not a single candidate who is even close to meeting the hiring manager’s expectations. So where does this lead us?

As recruiters, we have to constantly manage expectations of the hiring manager. After all, we are the Subject Matter Experts in our areas of recruiting, right? It’s not only the hiring manager’s expectations that we have to manage, but the candidate’s as well. Say we do find the perfect candidate, but the opportunity isn’t quit there. Maybe it’s the compensation package, location, benefits, etc. How do we manage this candidate vs. opportunity teeter-totter?

First let’s address the hiring manager’s expectations. You gave the requisition a good stab, source as many qualified folks as you can, and still have no one to present. Follow the words from Prince’s song in speaking with the hiring manager:

You say you want inset job title,
But you can’t seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple squirrel (or close to the purple squirrel as you can get)

Take charge and don’t be hesitant to speak up to let the hiring manager know where the weaknesses are in the job req. and address them up front. After all, you’re the one who’s responsible for producing and were hired on to fill the req’s as you are the market expert.

Second, speak with the candidate and understand why this job isn’t 100% suitable for them. This opportunity is a 9 out of 10, but they just aren’t ready to jump into the interview process just yet. Find what is missing and massage their expectations. No job is perfect, right? Prince nails it on the head when he sings:

I know, I know
I know times are changing
It’s time we all reach out (to a great recruiter)
For something new, that means you too

The recruiter is working for the candidate, as well as the client. A great recruiter’s goal is to create a mutual lasting placement where both parties are satisfied. As the recruiter, take full ownership of the requisition and display to the hiring manager that no one else knows the market as well as you. Manage both client and candidate expectations and this will lead to more successful placements and gain respect for you as a recruiter to the candidate and industry SME to the client. Always listen to both sides and try and level off the expectations teeter-totter, but don’t be afraid to step up and take charge to make the match.

Now, I will finish just as Prince finished his song:

If you know what I’m blogging about up here
C’mon, raise your hand

Mandy Vitto is an Internal Recruiter at NSS RPO, a consulting firm that provides on-site and virtual recruiting professionals. Contact NSS RPO to learn about how we can help your organization meet and exceed it’s hiring goals.