When I launched my business (nearly 7 years ago!), I remember a recruitment entrepreneur peer of mine emailed me at the start of December and wrote: “Your first year is nearly behind you! What will you start, stop and continue next year?” I now do this exercise for myself each December. Self-reflection is incredibly important as an entrepreneur, as is the willingness and curiosity to continue improving.
As I continue to do my own professional reflection, I’ve been thinking about #hiringmanagers and #candidates. I’ve been reflecting on the behavior I observed or heard about in 2019, and have been pondering what many of us would love to see START, STOP, and CONTINUE in 2020.
Here are some of the first few ones that came to my mind. I wanted to share; perhaps you have others to add? (Please do in the comments below)
Or, maybe you find it helpful to do this exercise yourself if you plan to be a candidate or hiring manager in 2020. Maybe you’ll find yourself mentoring or advising someone in the role of hiring manager or candidate in 2020; you’ll want to ensure you’ve given this some thought now.
Going into 2020 and reflecting upon 2019…
START
Candidates:
start building rapport with new professionals before asking for favors/help
start having more empathy for hiring managers and their unique fears and anxiety
start recognizing the importance of engaging with social media, not only when job-searching
Hiring Managers:
Start having more empathy for candidates and their fears and anxiety
Start understanding why ‘this job is STILL open?!’ is harming your brand in immense ways
Start asking for help joyfully; you can’t do it all alone
STOP
Candidates:
Stop assuming negative intent in those hiring; stop making assumptions without gaining more info
Stop sending introductory emails without proofreading for tone and personal brand first
Stop wasting your own time when you’re really not ready to make a move
Hiring Managers:
Stop keeping roles open for multiple months by glorifying ‘picky’ as a positive thing
Stop looking for flaws in candidates instead of recognizing they are imperfect, just like you
Stop assuming you know it all already; hiring trends change by the minute
CONTINUE
Candidates:
Continue being discerning and clear about what you want next
Continue knowing your self-worth and value in the marketplace
Continue being kind and giving to those who cross your professional path
Hiring Managers:
Continue being brave! Hiring requires a level of risk-taking
Continue asking questions of your recruitment partners to keep learning and improving
Continue being kind and considerate to all those crossing your professional path
What would you add? How will you help advise a hiring manager or candidate in 2020? What do you think they can start, stop, and continue? Let’s keep helping others to improve! Sometimes hearing the truth may sting at first, but in sharing it we can help people grow professionally.
Let’s connect on Instagram and Twitter. Find me @EastSideStaff