Parents: You May Not Want to Hear This

Maybe it's just the wrong time of year. We're generally prepared for the onslaught of graduates in spring. We're ready to exhibit more patience with first-time jobseekers, help guide them onto the path, give them tips on how to get started, explain what NOT to do.

So when the phone call this week started with "My son is graduating with a degree in strategic communications and a minor in Spanish. Can you help him?", I directed her to our website, along with SucceedAfterSchool.com. Not taking the hint, she wanted to talk about it. Recruiters are busy for the first time in a long time and -- think about it -- we make a living from employers who are searching for talent.

Sons, don't let your Mothers grow up to be helicopter parents.

Telling the Truth

I just read a post from a recruiter about this subject and it's worth repeating: Human Resource departments and recruiters need to tell job-seekers the truth. About their standing and their chances at any given job. We live and work in a nice town. A really nice, civilized, put your blinker on before you change lanes kind of place.

And the problem with that, at times, is that hiring managers won't always tell you the harsh truth. Kathryn, our senior recruiter, has dubbed it killing them with encouragement. Too often we hear "I had an interview with _______ and they said they would get back to me. But I haven't been able to get anyone on the phone in the (gasp) months since." Yes, we're all sitting amid stacks or bits/bytes of resumes, but we need to do a better job of responding to people who are interested in employment with our companies.

We pledge to provide feedback as soon as we get it -- the waiting is no fun -- and to offer advice, when asked, about any part of the job hunting process.