A purple squirrel is a term
commonly used in recruitment to describe a candidate with precisely the perfect
mix of skills, experience and personality who is able to immediately handle the
wide variety of job responsibilities with no training. Purple squirrels also
don’t fuss about their compensation package, part-time employment or the
required commute.
Attractive as it may be to initiate
the search for that rare animal, it often proves to be a fruitless endeavour.
They exist and from time to time, I am able to attract one but that isn’t the
result of a successful recruitment strategy, it is merely a matter of luck.
As I don’t like waiting for lady
fortune to wave her magic wand, here are a few tips that will avoid that you
engage in a wild squirrel chase.
First of all, ask yourself if it is
really necessary to find the perfect candidate? When you prioritise the ‘hard
to learn’ requirements such as people skills over the specific skills that can
be learned on the job, you can attract people who have it in them to become the
perfect employee for the long run. Research shows that employees who are
trained up to do a role have more incentive to succeed and tend to stay longer
in a role.
Rather than spending months finding
the perfect candidate, hiring someone with the potential to become the perfect
employee may prove to be a very successful strategy.
If after this reflection, you are
still convinced that you require a perfect match, gear up!
Personalise your approach. Most
candidates with the perfect profile are not actively looking for a new
opportunity. You will have to approach them pro-actively, convincing them that
your opportunity is the one they have been waiting for.
Market yourself well. Analyse the
current job market and define an attractive job offer, an offer that will
entice them to engage in an exploratory conversation. In addition to the nuts
and bolts of the offer, craft a story that helps the candidate envision better
opportunities for success or professional development as a member of your team.
Execute that story to perfection; ensure that every step of the selection
process reinforces that story. After all, actions speak louder than words.
Be patient. It may take a while
before you are able to convince the perfect candidate to take the jump.
Investing in creating a talent community or a pipeline of interesting
candidates prior to having the need to hire, will speed up the process.
Whether you are on a mission to
catch a purple squirrel or whether you are painting a white squirrel purple …feel
free to drop me a mail if you need assistance or a sounding board.
Although it is still pouring rain
outside, summer has started so it is time for a break. I’ll be back with more
insights on my life as a headhunter on September 6th. Enjoy the
holidays!
I look forward to hearing from you,
Isabel
Through a personalised and
tailor-made approach, Ingenium Executive Search aspires to assist you in
attracting the right talent that matches the DNA of your company
Follow me on Twitter
@IngeniumSearch
