Recruiters get a fair amount of heat for ignoring stuff. Whether it be towards persistent yet non-placeable candidates, or internal recruiters on perpetual voicemail, we have an infamous and well-documented history with the ol’ silent treatment. In many cases, it’s a skidmark on on the Y-fronts of what should be a smooth, considered, and considerate hiring process. We’ve gone and got ourselves so busy, and so focused on the prize, that we’ve forgotten the common courtesy taught to us by those who address us by our full names; “Sean Mario Walters! Put your Megadrive down and look at me when I’m talking to you!”
However, there is also something to be said about selective hearing. The ability to ignore, when used appropriately, is one of the most effective tools in the Recruiters arsenal. Some of the best recruiters I know are highly adept at ignoring things. As I tell my dominatrix, I have been a naughty boy myself on occasion. My clients have been known to write “no agencies” on their job ads. Does this mean that I won’t try and wangle my way in there and persuade them to look at “just one” candidate via me? Of course it doesn’t. I’m not going to blindly float a CV, but if the role is right for the candidate and the candidate right for the role, and I believe that through my skill and endeavour I can create a happy union, then damn right I’ll ignore the fact that the client wants to avoid a fee. Good recruiters listen to what matters, such as the candidates’ wishes, but are able to steamroller over things like disappointment, rejection, annoying colleagues, annoying bosses, and less favourable market conditions. They have “can-do” attitude. That “never say die” Dunkirk spirit. The truly exceptional, through sheer force of will, are able to create their own momentum, positivity, aura, and legend. Like high-performance athletes, they can’t help but vibrate at a higher rate than the rest of us. They’re the Michael Jordans, the Cristiano Ronaldos, the Muhammad Alis. And this idea of disregarding the negative isn’t just applicable for recruiters and athletes. Sometimes the best thing to do, and as infantile as this may sound, is just ignore a person or situation until they go away. Don’t like a celebrity? Deny them the oxygen of publicity and see if they’re still around for London Fashion Week. Fed up with a thirsty admirer of the opposite sex sliding into your DMs? Ignore the would be lothario and he (and it usually is a “he”) will direct his pokes elsewhere. Child won’t stop asking “why”? Lock them in the shed and go to the pub. There is something ultimately powerful in ignoring certain situations.
This week, and probably to the annoyance of the National Party, New Zealand announced a drop in unemployment from 4.2% to 4% (depending on how you interpret the data). As we all sat here preparing for high single digits, with National already basing an election campaign on fixing the unemployment problem, we see that things aren’t nearly as bad as they could be. Likewise, as we wait for the reintroduction of community spread Covid, we still seem to have a fairly firm grip on the virus. We’ve got Eden Park selling out, you can hug your gran (don’t try this if she’s dead), and we’ve even started working with some new clients. On a domestic level, it really does seem that things could be a hell of a lot worse. This is in stark contrast to the global situation. Victoria had Covid on the ropes before being sucker punched in the 12th round, Europe is going back into lockdown, the UK has no idea whether to stay in, out, or shake it all about, and the US is suffering a thousand deaths a day under the moronic yet soon-to-be tyrannical control of a tiny-handed, wispy-haired cheeto. And now, as if to add insult to injury, we’ve had the biggest fucking explosion I’ve ever seen decimate Beirut.
We are dealing with two very different realities, and it is our decision which one we ignore. Our economy is largely based on confidence, and here’s the thing with confidence; very few of us actually actually have it. Those who display it are probably just faking it. And, as the old adage goes, they fake it until they make it. Now is probably the time for New Zealand to fake some confidence. Yes, we’ve been kicked in the balls, and my heart goes out to those industries directly impacted by our international isolation. But for the rest of us, if we switch off the news and focus on what we have over what we’ve lost, maybe…just maybe…we can get back on track.
Have a good ‘un and see you in a couple of weeks. I’m off on holiday.
^SW
