We live in an unimaginably connected world. It truly feels like a small world at times. But how many of us are actually mindful about our connections? Of course, it is not possible to know how and to whom you are connected without some sort of communication and revelation. You cannot know your sister goes to a school where your friend’s cousin is her classmate, unless someone tells you about it. You cannot know a client of yours knows a candidate you placed in a different firm ten years ago, unless you see them as mutual connections on social media.
And sometimes, connections pay- literally and figuratively. The impetus networking skills have gained over the years is the proof. Networking, making connections is an important task. LinkedIn wouldn’t be so important otherwise.
Moreover, it is a greater skill to make use of that networking and connections, at the right time.
We are back with a recruitment story, this time, with the theme of the importance of making right and timely use of your networks.
One of our Team Leaders was in touch with a candidate who had been selected for a senior position at a particular company abroad. The candidate, let us call him Mr. X, was having a hard time getting his resignation accepted at his then current job. Seeing no other alternative, he ghosted that company. He left, just like that.
He not only ghosted the company he was then working at, but also the company he was supposed to join.
So now, the client company was left hanging. The candidate had also met the management once, and they were sure he would join once his notice period came to an end.
The client told our Team Leader about the issue.
The Team Leader’s calls, messages, emails went unanswered, unreachable too.
A classic case of ghosting had unfolded! What to do now, we wondered.
The Team Leader explored her networks. She browsed LinkedIn incessantly to find some common connection, some person, maybe who lived in the same country, city as Mr. X. She started looking for people who might be even remotely connected in any way to him.
She found out one connection, someone she knew, let us call him Mr. Y. Apparently, he and Mr. X both were employees in one company at some point of time, but in different countries. The timings of their tenure matched, but could it be possible that Y would know X? Probably no, probably yes.
Besides, she had contacted a former colleague of Mr. X, and he had the same contact information. What are the odds that this Mr. Y would have anything new to say?
At such times, it becomes important to rely on your guesswork, and take chances.
Our Team Leader anyway contacted Mr. Y, and eventually asked him if he knew Mr. X.
Turns out, they were in fact, good friends. What’s more, Mr. Y said he had talked to Mr. X just recently. They were in touch!
Our Team Leader talked about the issue to Mr. Y. He said he wouldn’t be able to give her Mr. X’s new contact information but he will communicate the issue to him, and will tell him to give a call.
There was no call for some time though. The Team Leader waited.
Finally, Mr. X called. The ghost had been found!
He communicated the problem he was facing with his resignation to our Team Leader. He also told her that there was a health emergency in his family, and he wouldn’t be able to join the client company at the date that had been decided. The Team Leader understood his predicament, and communicated this to the client company.
Eventually, the issues were sorted, he attended to the health emergency well. He attended the training sessions but as per his requirement, his joining date was extended.
What are the lessons to learn here?
Firstly, the Team Leader’s perseverance and resourcefulness.
She made full use of LinkedIn. Many of us ignore the tools we have at hand.
How many of us have that presence of mind? It is important to know where to look, and whom to ask. Knowledge-acquisition process would become haphazard if we didn’t know these basic questions. And she kept looking despite failure at the first connection.
The Team Leader also took a chance. She didn’t dismiss any trace of a link. It is truly necessary to be open to possibilities. We should know that one really never knows.
These qualities, and the commitment helped her retain a long-term client, a very important thing in the recruitment industry. And most importantly, communication played a major role. To find solution(s) to any problem, one needs to know that there is a problem in the first place.
This is one recruitment story where making the right use of technological resources, networking, and communication skills made a difference. Kudos to Mrs. Rina Arun, the Team Leader in the story!