Where'd All the Good People Go?

All too often, and all to seldom, the words “Thank-you” seem as though it has disappeared into our crazy, chaotic, busy, and yet awfully so simply if you think about it. No matter how “well” off we are it is never enough. Competition and jealousy is always eating away at our character and not to mention people’s hearts are the epitome of an ice box. Just what your mother told you, use your manners. A simple “thank-you” will go a long way.

Gratitude in general is the department that we can guilt fully says that we unfortunately fall short in. There is no such thing as sole success. Every person that has ever been successful had to of leaned on someone else in order to get to where they are now. Resources are a fabulous thing. If you so choose to use those resources or stepping stones that will get you to where you want to be, be sure to use probably the two most underused words, “thank-you”.

Thank you’s are highly recommended by potential employers for a follow up method post interview to show interest and thanks in the time spent with them, especially hand-written letters. This creates a “wow factor” to the company which makes you stand out among the rest of the contestants for the desired position. By doing this oh-so small genuine act, increases your chances significantly of securing your desired position. Attention to detail will always be in high demand and a hand written thank-you says that you are the type of person that will give them the attention to detail they are looking for.

According to one of the top country artists, Brad Paisley explains in his song “The World”, just one encounter may be small, but overall, it may mean the world to someone in a way that you may not recognize. 

“To the teller down at the bank You're just another checking account To the plumber that came today You're just another house At the airport ticket counter You're just another fare At the beauty shop at the mall Well you're just another head of hair You're just another tip To the guy at the ice cream shop You're just another dip When you can't get reservations 'Cause you don't have the clout Or you didn't get an invitation 'Cause somebody left you out."

Although these small occurrences seem to be repetitive to both parties that encounter these interactions, they are truly what make the business world and this so called “real world” go round. Just another business transaction may be the difference in making productivity goals or the determinant factor of a small business keeping its doors open. 

If you need some more exemplification of how to do your part in the gratitude, I would highly recommend the article, “The Underappreciated Art of Saying ‘Thank You’”. 

Tis the season of giving thanks! 

Nepotism: The Good, the Bad and the Family

Family—you despise family gatherings, cross the line one too many times, complain about them more than seven days a week, avoid them, criticize their parenting tactics and how they aren't taking care of grandma, and don’t even get me started on holidays. And now you want to hire them? A little backwards if you ask me.

Yes, of course, you can also be inseparable with your family, have nothing but positive interactions, and are able to tolerate each other, but there is a fine line with the transition of going from a family member to a co-worker. Be aware of the occurrences that may be a sequence of unfortunate events.

 Photo by Buschap via flickr

Desperation Disaster

Okay, yes I get it. You’re in a crunch. An unexpected termination or resignation was abrupt and it quite honestly probably happened at the absolute worst time to have an empty position. However, this does not constitute hiring a family member out of desperation. Make sure that their resume truly does meet the qualifications of the job description. You will thank yourself down the road if they do meet all of the requirements. Respect yourself and company you work for when making such an important judgment call.

There will be competition

Understand that your new-hire relative will have a target on his or her forehead the moment they step foot in the office. By this time, gossip has already started for others looking for ways to sabotage. How can we make them screw up so they look foolish? Be ready for continuous “one-upping” from all of the other employees, which we can only hope, may turn out positively through efficiently getting tasks completed. The new-person also may be referred to as an enemy, simply because the existing employees cannot talk bad about their boss to them in fear of them relaying that message to the boss.

Keep it professional

Sure crazy Aunt Susan went to jail last night again and you most recently found out that cousin Jason dropped out of school when both his parents graduated at the top of their Harvard graduating class. Does this conversation need to happen within the confines of the office walls? I’m going to go with probably not. The minute the clock ticks 5:01, those conversations are fair game. Just as you were expected to achieve the highest level of professionalism prior to when the new-hire began, keep in professional regardless the urge not to. Remember that you are on the company’s time and not working while on the clock can be categorized into stealing from the company.

Don’t Bend the Rules

Absolutely no favoritism allowed. Even showing the slightest bit of favoritism towards your newly hired relative can create a hostile working environment. Other employees will find out, and believe it or not it is evident to everyone in the office. Other co-workers are aware that every time they pass the bosses door, they see the “new person” chit-chatting away every single time. Moral of the story, people notice.

Yes, no. Yes, no. Yes, no.

Just like peer pressure in high school, have the ability to say no. I promise you that your family member will not hate you for the rest of eternity. If it requires a little white lie to get you to that point of saying no, your secret is safe with me. We’ve all heard the horror stories of doing business with family members. On the flip side, hiring your relative may be single-handily the best decision you ever make. They may feel the pressure to impress and succeed within your company knowing they are working for someone they genuinely respect. Long story short, make a good judgment call. 

Your Call

Contrary to everything I just stated, some of the most successful companies are family oriented businesses. I get the convenience of having a family member on board your team: you know their history, less likely to steal from the company, will feel the pressure to perform well, you know they’re reliable, and they can’t really call in sick or make up an excuse as to why they weren’t at work without finding out the exact reason why.

Overall, use your professional and personal expertise when it comes to deciding whether or not to hire a family member. As many “Caution Beware” signs there may be, I can’t help but grant the fact that it can turn out positively. The ultimate decision is situational depending on the needs and wants of the company’s expectations. And if you aren't careful you might end up like another episode of The Office. 

Childhood Memories Linked to Profession

Where It All Began

It’s a beautiful sunshiny, fall day in 2003. The wind is blowing oh-so slightly and the birds are singing a harmonious song. By staring at the clouds, picture perfect shapes pop out to fill an imagination. However, staring up into the sky was the least of all the concerns—at least it was on the playground. At 11:23 the lunch bell rings at Glenville-Emmons, which only means one thing. Recess! As we spring out to the kickball field, the anticipation of today finally being the day that the highly sought after home-run would happen for bragging rights for the rest of the day.

Glenville-Emmons Elementary, Glenville, Minnesota

But first things first, we obviously had to pick teams. Only the best of the best were nominated as captains, and only the best of the best were chosen first. Alternating picks, both team captains weighed their options from the non-existent resumes each potential player provided—Who played the best during the morning recess kickball game? Who looks tired and who looks like lunch fed their motivation and drive?

“For my first choice, I choose Peter.” “I choose Landon.” “I choose Spencer.” “I choose Zack.” “I choose Andrew.” All of the boys were definite first picks. Then it was on to the handful of girls who decided to test their endurance that day. “Ummmm… Alayna.” “I guess I’ll go with Kailey.” “Hmm Devin (whew, made the cut)”. “Robyn over here and Nisha over there and the two Emily’s split up”.

These decisions of picking teammates could impact the moods of everyone for the remainder of recess, or even the entire day.

If us farm kids weren't getting our hands dirty on the kickball field, we were getting our boots dirty in the barn. From the kickball field to the barn, we transitioned into recruiting the best livestock. Yes, livestock.

Growing up in a small-farm town community, 4-H and FFA were popular organizations. Within these organizations, we had the opportunity to raise and eventually show our own livestock in a showing competition. In the ending months of winter, my family would go to the local pig farmers farm to pick out which piglets we would want to show at the upcoming Freeborn County Fair during the first week of August, known as "The Best Six Days of Summer". 

Many things had to be kept into consideration which choosing the most ideal show pig. Who do we buy the pigs from? What are the genetics of the pigs? But most importantly in my eyes at such a young age, which piglet was the cutest, most adorable thing I had ever seen in my entire life? When this decision was finally reached, we welcomed aboard the newest member of the Cooper family, for those select few piglets now held a special place at the Cooper farm to be cared for during the next seven months in hopes of winning a purple ribbon at the county fair. 

Where It Continues From Here

Little did I know, these childhood activities unconsciously served as stepping stones for my career and professional interest in the communication and recruitment field. The workplace is not the only place where we find evident signs of recruitment, but also in our everyday lives. In recruitment, the same childhood thought processes and mechanisms that were used in such simple instances can be applied to recruitment and networking situations in the business world today.

Throughout this blog, you can expect to hear the latest recruitment tactics, reoccurring and ageless human resource ideas, personal experiences, networking solutions, insights on what strategies companies prefer, and not mention probably an unintentional biased opinion.