Everyone wants to catch the Purple Squirrel - few actually can!

So, what’s the trick?  What makes it possible for some recruiters to court and attract the very best talent to their client companies?

The answer and the window of opportunity into this technique are asking the right question.  So, what is this magical question?  So glad you asked!

The Question:  Who is the most talented individual you know in the (fill in your recruiting area)?

Yes, that may seem too simple, but it’s really not.  Let’s face it; recruiting is all about the network.  Every single person you chat with over the course of a recruiting day has the potential of knowing the most sought after person in your space.  Therefore, neglecting to ask that one simple question could very well keep you from identifying some amazing talent and becoming the hottest recruiter around!

Once you’ve started to ask the question, what do you do with the answers?

There is a very special list of talent that any dedicated recruiter should keep in their back pocket.  For the purpose of consistency, let’s call it the “Purple Squirrel List”.  This summary of talent is reserved for the best of the best - the talent that you would gladly introduce to any of your clients because you have all the faith in the world that they would make a positive business impact.  The type of candidates that, should you place them, would only help to increase your reputation in your recruiting space.

With this in mind, it’s important to know, you won’t always be able to recruit each superstar with the first call.  It can take months, sometimes years, to finally identify the right opportunity or company to meet the needs of your stellar candidate.  So, be patient, be persistent, follow up… find out how their careers are progressing.

The need for talent changes constantly.  With an “up” economy, the demand can be huge…  when things are “down” - well, we all know how that goes.  One thing remains consistent for recruiters… we are responsible for knowing talent and delivering those individuals when our clients are in need.

Let’s go Purple Squirrel hunting!

About The Red Recruiter

http://redrecruiting.com

Michael Long (The Red Recruiter) is a small business owner that wears red shoes every single day.  Based out of San Antonio, TX, Michael started his business with the intent to raise the bar in the recruiting industry.  Michael’s firm specializes in identifying the very best Human Resources and Social Media talent across the country.  In addition to scouting out the best and the brightest, Michael is continuously engaged in speaking, training and consulting on the topic of social media as it applies to recruiting, job search, human resources and overall corporate strategy.

In his “spare time,” Michael runs Red Shoe Project, a non-profit awareness campaign that aims to put the fun back into helping charities.  Recruiting, Human Resources, Social Media and Red Shoe Project are all topics that Michael touches on in his blog The Red Recruiter.

Business aside, Michael has enjoyed some adventures in his lifetime.  At age 16, he moved abroad to Guatemala for an entire year.  Michael moved to Argentina for a year after high school and started learning how to play guitar.  After returning to the U.S. he graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.  He later moved to Phoenix, AZ and eventually relocated to San Antonio, TX in 2007.

Michael J. Long
michael@theredrecruiter.com
http://theredrecruiter.com
877.475.4994