Groups
Training Discussions « back to group
-
"Learning the ropes" This expression has come to mean generally learning how to perform some specific task or gain skill within some particular field of endeavor. The term comes from the important task of learning the use of the many ropes aboard a sailing vessel.
Question: I am new to sourcing. I am working in a six person office where my job is to support three of them with search activity for their open positions. My problem is where to begin? I'm working long hours but I feel like I?m swimming in a morass of information and I?m not generating any real income as I make a small salary plus a percentage of what they make. Any suggestions on what I might do to get myself on the right track?
Answer: It?s important for you to understand that the first few months in this business are typically very difficult for the new sourcer. You?re wading into a newly dug pond where there are not a lot of User Manual Instructions. You?re wistfully observing the old-timers talk about Boolean strings and social networking sites and telephone scripts that work but the important thing to keep in mind, Grasshopper, is that what you?re experiencing is a common malady with a simple cure: You need to develop a plan and then you need to persevere. Repeat after me: Persevere.
To be more specific:
Understand what makes you tick. Get this: You?re basically a one person band and you have to decide if you?re the type who can generate business on a stand-alone basis; can you make it happen? Sure, once in a while someone?s going to throw you a bone (actually, if you watch the group discussions here on ERE you?ll realize there are feasts to be had but that?s another story) and for the most part it?s up to you to get up everyday, go to your desk and get to work. You must be prepared to spend Time and Treasure to get where you want to go.
What you learn in your online participations in the sourcing discussions should give you a good background, but the actual job of sourcing names requires additional skills and knowledge. If your company has a training program, or a budget to purchase one, participate wholeheartedly. If there is no formal program, reach out to others who have gone before you. Learn about this industry ? it?s fascinating. If you?re going to make it in sourcing you have to be a self starter and self motivator.
There?s material available in the form of books, groups, courses, and seminars. What you want to do at this point is gain an overview of all that is available, and to choose an approach that you and your office manager think has the most potential for you. Understand this, though, it?s very likely your own office manager doesn?t have the first idea what or how you?re supposed to do what they expect of you. That?s just the way it is ? sourcing is only recently becoming ?formalized? in the public eye and there isn?t a lot of knowledge about it out on the ground.
I strongly recommend joining the groups that have emerged on the subject and read through their archives: ERE ASK Maureen ERE Sourcing Techniques & Methodologies ERE Elite Cybersleuthing Yahoo! Sourcers Unleashed Yahoo! Sourcers Guild Yahoo! Magic in the Method Sourcers group (for students of MagicMethod)
I also recommend you read blogs that are heavily influenced by the subject - RecruitingBloggers.com is one.
Seek out the trainers that are providing training on the subject: Internet search consultants, trainers and related websites: www.risetrends.com (Barbara Ling) www.jobmachine.net (Shally Steckerl) www.recruiting-online.com (Glenn Gutmacher) www.cyberrecruitingsecrets.com (Judy West) www.jimstroud.com (Jim Stroud) http://www.recruitersnetwork.com/resources/index.htm (Brian Weiss) http://www.xtremerecruiting.org (Bill Vick) http://www.homebasedrecruiter.com/ http://www.semcoenterprises.com/ (focuses on IT) http://www.artofrecruiting.com/ http://www.airsdirectory.com http://www.kennedyinfo.com/audio/
One of the real benefits of using a trainer is that many offer a series of very useful professional development courses. Professional designations are in the early days of search education ? there will soon be established badges of honor worn by those who have successfully completed professional training in this sphere.
Seek out a mentor in this space. There are many folks here on ERE who gladly share ?sourcing secrets? with others so find them and read back, again, through the archives that read like a Treasure Trail to Riches. You can learn a lot just by careful observation and by asking discerning questions. Get involved in the community.
WARNING: Those with bad attitudes should be avoided. Bad attitudes are contagious.
It?s tempting to spend your time on things you enjoy ? getting lost in the murky depths of the Internet without understanding when it?s time to cut bait is a real danger. You can spend hours and hours chasing phantoms that disappear in your very ears when you try to locate them in the real world (on the phone) so learn the best methods to use for your Internet perusals in your search for those few names that can ?get you in?.
Be clear about how you will be paid. Tracking productivity in search is tricky and should be easier in a small pool like you have but beware of the ?You didn?t give me this name ? this name you gave me gave me this name? ruse. It?s not fair and you need to be apprised of the possibility. A per-name or a per-hour rate is probably cleaner and less fraught with problematic possibilities.
Learn to think about the ?payroll? possibilities of sourcing. Different searches hold different pay scenarios for your recruiters. Learn the market and what?s hot and what?s not. Equally important, though, is to understand what space it is you ?enjoy? working in ? it doesn?t matter what the reward is if you?re not having fun!
To be competitive in the sourcing profession you will absolutely have to become conversant with some of the tools but don?t get caught up in the technological morass. You DO NOT need a lot of the fancy and expensive tools touting themselves as ?must haves? in this industry. You do, however, need:
a computer a word processing system (like Microsoft Word) a phone w/ Call Block a desk with a a lamp and pens, pencils, typical desk paraphernalia a business directory resource subscription (like Hoover?s) a silent keyboard is a great help if you decide you want to be a Telephone Sourcer a FREE social networking site, like LinkedIn, that will give you those first ?few names in? that will enable you to explore more fully GUTS, determination, perseverance
The best advice I can give you is a couple things that are contained above that I will repeat: Study, think, plan, act. Get involved in your community ? participate in discussions! Persevere. Repeat after me: Persevere.
The last thing I want to say to you is to be prepared to Give Back. Remember that at one time you were helped and prepare to help others when the time comes because, most assuredly, it will!
Maureen Sharib Telephone Names Sourcer/MagicMethod Trainer 513 899 9628 TechTrak.com, Inc. maureen at techtrak.com www.techtrak.com
No replies in this discussion yet.
Log in or register to post a reply.
