NOT SO MUCH GLASSDOOR AS GLASSHOUSE
At a recent meeting, a client asked whether we were on Glassdoor. My honest answer was that I didn’t know. I hadn’t looked at Glassdoor since emigrating from the UK six years ago. I was suddenly apprehensive about what I might find. Over the last five years with Momentum in CFO and more recently CEO capacity, I had witnessed an industry that has a mixed reputation. What had clients, candidates and ex-employees said? What was our reputation in the market? So naturally I went straight back to the office and researched. What I found wasn’t surprising. Momentum and Velocity were nowhere to be found and I had to scroll through 27 pages before coming across a recruitment services business, a global player nonetheless which has been in existence since 1946.
An offsite with our senior leadership team from Momentum and Velocity identified a desire to be more transparent and honest. As an industry, it is one of biggest gripes and challenges. Every placement involves an increasing number of people ranging from hiring managers, HR business partners, talent acquisition partners, recruitment consultants, sourcing specialists and of course the candidate. When you consider the number of candidates not successful, the list is very long. It made me think. We are more akin to a glasshouse than a Glassdoor.
I immediately wondered what would happen if 2.3 million people applied for a job with us. It isn’t the how that matters though; it’s the WHY.
WHY DO OUR CLIENTS USE A RECRUITMENT PROVIDER?
WHY DO CANDIDATES COME TO A RECRUITMENT COMPANY?
Both parties have an expectation. They expect us to offer more than just a simple Boolean search or job board posting. They expect more than a coordination service of organising interviews and paperwork. They expect us to add value through impartial feedback and seamless communication. They expect us to market both parties. Our industry is blighted by comments and feedback. It’s something that we must wear. The upside is hopefully that the anger of rejection, lack of clarity and communication is laid at our doorstep, not the clients’. If you haven’t already, perhaps you should visit Glassdoor and find out what has been said about your organisation or the organisation you’re considering joining.
I read on another blog that the word ‘transparent’ was one of the most hated words associated with recruitment firms. We are perceived as living in the proverbial glasshouse and throwing stones.
So where to from here? We must stop using words like ‘transparency’ and ‘honesty’ and that we are different – and first be authentic. Raise the curtains, turn on the lights and let the outside look into your glasshouse. Open the door and listen. Be you. Be true.
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