Wouldn’t it be great if you could see the future? Well you can at least anticipate what it might possibly hold for you. In fact, I think anticipation is a necessity in this industry.
I find myself, at the moment, in a predicament that I find myself in about once every couple of months or so. Some call it anticipation. I call it “oh my sweet Lord, I can’t WAIT for (fill in event here) to happen!” First of all, every sports station, website, soothsayer, Eskimo prophet is coming out with early summer College Football predictions. And, my Clemson Tigers are in everyone’s top 10! More on why that could actually be a bad thing later on after the season starts. Also, one of my very best friends is coming to visit for the Memorial Day weekend which I am very much looking forward to. In addition, the new Indy flick comes out at the end of the month, the new King’s X album is out in the same week and I actually got my mother something pretty cool for Mother’s Day that I think she’ll like…much better than the trail of Border’s Books gift certificates that I’ve gotten her for the last…how old am I? Anyway, I have an onslaught of things’a’comin that I’m pretty stoked about!
I’ve already made plans with some of my geek friends to purchase my Indy tickets early, I’ve already bought my mother her Mother’s Day present, I’ve already planned out some cool shit to do when my friend comes to town and I’m already starting my Book of Excuses for why Clemson will, yet again, be an entirely horrible disappointment of a team that was hyped so feverishly at the beginning of the year. In other words, given the anticipation, I have made plans for the future.
I tell you that, to tell you this: It’s OK for you to talk to a candidate of mine that you like, even if you don’t necessarily have an “open position” for them. I believe I’ve talked about this before, but it’s worth mentioning again.
Think about it this way, is it better to have already talked to a couple of candidates that you can “keep in mind” when the time of need arrives, or is it better to be blindsided with a pressing need only to find out that no one is available within a week’s time frame? I’m going to go with number one on that one! Now, don’t get me wrong, if you have no intention of hiring a candidate within two months time, don’t waste my candidate’s time. But, if you’re already anticipating a need (say you’re going after a new client and everything looks 99% done) you might as well talk to my candidate if they sound fantastic to you. As I always say, it never hurts to talk! Plus, it doesn’t cost you anything to test the waters! Remember, we work for free…
I have agencies talk to candidates, even when they don’t have a particular need, all the time. Why would you want to let a superstar candidate slip through your fingers simply because you wouldn’t talk to them on the phone for 15 minutes? You never know what you’re missing until you talk to them and find out what they COULD bring to your table. Make the time to talk. Make the time to research. Make the time to have conversations. At the very least you may be uncovering a talent in your marketplace that you didn’t even know existed. And, nothing says that you can’t continue those relationships, even if you can’t hire them, for years to come. If anything it’s a networking tool!
My notes for the past week:
· I’m not happy about having Matt Ryan on the Falcons roster. He killed Clemson for three years straight and now I’m supposed to root for him? UGH!
· No matter what band or artist the “Behind the Music” is about, I WILL watch it.
· I really like women. That’s always been the case but…well it was a sunny Sunday afternoon this weekend and my pool is going to be a regular hangout for me this summer. And, now I just sound like a creepy old man. Though, Emma Watson did just turn 18…
Technorati Tags: future, College Football, Clemson Tigers, Mother’s Day, candidate, agencies
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