WHAT A HOMELESS GUY CAN TEACH US ABOUT RECRUITING TOP TALENT
There is a new reality show taking place in the real life and it is generating a lot of buzz. You cannot watch it on cable TV because it is being played out only on the Internet. It is unscripted; uncensored and it is told through smartphone videos uploaded on the Internet by real people. What makes this reality show interesting is that it is taking places on the same island that introduced us to Bob Marley and Usain Bolt. But this time, it is centered around a homeless guy’s transformation from rags to riches and how he found love along the way. The interesting part is that his transformation was completed in a matter of weeks.
You’ve never seen anything like this before!
This guy is as colorful as the character from the movie “Crocodile Dundee”.
Think about it!
What can you expect from someone who has lived on the streets for decades?
He looks the part, he is rough-around-the-edges. But, he is authentic, and its obvious that he is a highly talented performer and someone who is very knowledgeable about the changes taking place around him as he rapidly gains fame & fortune.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so the quickest way to get up to date in this reality show is to see it in pictures as your first step. Or/and then read about it here.
Continue reading below if your livelihood depends on successfully recruiting talent for your employer or your clients because you will be blown away by what a homeless guy has to says. The reason you will be blown away is because there is no way someone who has lived without Internet access, mobile phone or any social media accounts can be so knowledgeable about social media.
Since he speaks mostly in native dialect, and one that I understand, I will translate the meaning of his words.
There are five take-away that are important to recruiters.
Social Media is here to stay
The question that you need to ask yourself is-how can top talent be found in places where top talent does not exist?
His existence and talent were discovered only because a smart phone video that was uploaded to Facebook, went viral. What this means for recruiters is that the caliber of talent that you seek to fill those critical job openings, most likely will be found through social media. So, a good recruiter needs to be where the talent are in order to successfully engage them. But having a LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter profile is not enough to be an effective engagement strategy. An effective engagement strategy is a process that will continuously attract talent, and engage them with interesting content that will ultimately build your brand as an expert in their field. That is where the real recruiting begins in today’s environment.
What works for one will not work for another
He said do not waste your time doing what he did because it will not work for you. What he means is to stop listening to what the so-called social media evangelists are telling you about how the big brand name firms get results with social media.
It is no longer the one who opens the door gets the credit; its the one who can engage should get the credit.
He said that he didn’t have to thank the individual who uploaded the video that went viral. Someone else did a better job of sharing that video after it was uploaded. So, just because LinkedIn has hundreds of millions of professional profiles online, or the applicant is in your database because he applied to one of your jobs, or is known by the hiring manager-doesn’t mean that they should automatically get the credit. The one who should get the credit is the one responsible for motivating, inspiring that individual to showcase their talent in the right way, to the right employer.
Top talent can be easily overlooked because the individual doesn’t look the part.
He said that the talent has been there all along, but no one saw it in him. What they saw was a mentally ill, homeless looking guy.
One little change will affect something much bigger
He has major dental issues of which he is well aware. What is interesting is that he has declined free services from renown dental specialists. Why? A smile and prettier teeth will certainly improve his appearance, he said. but that procedure will slow down his momentum and could possibly alter his unique delivery. In other words, we should feel comfortable with the way we look. Being comfortable is exuding confidence! Do not be afraid to show who you truly are in your online life, because at the end of the day, everyone cannot be young, attractive and successful in real life.
