Exec vs Recruitment Manager
Exec: I’ve got a new business deal coming in and I need to hire 1000 ancient kung fu masters who can do a little bit of technical trouble shooting. Do we have those in the market?
RM: Are you kidding? Last time we needed to hire those it was a very expensive project. You know the market is running out of those guys.
Exec: Well our competitors are able to do it. Why cant we?
RM: Everyone is struggling with their market share. Are you willing to pay enough to attract from our competitors?
Exec: Do you want me to eat into my margins? Do you want our stockholders to bite my head off? You know the world is run by greed right? Lets let the entry level suffer. That’s the way things are.
RM: Well I’m afraid to say no to you. I’m afraid to be judged as someone who says no. And even if I wont lose my job I know you are powerful enough to make my life in this company very uncomfortable.
Exec: I’m glad we understand each other. I cannot miss out on this chance to make money. I need a new SUV. So make me a plan and tell me what you need to get things done.
RM: Sure I can do that. Though I feel this is impossible I can always blame my staff or the Sourcing department if things go bad.
Exec: Exactly. So what do you have to lose by saying yes? You lose more by saying no.
Recruitment Manager vs Recruitment Team
RM: Team we need to hire 1000 ancient kung fu masters with tech support background. Lets do some jobfairs and go into the schools.
Team: But the last time we did that we had to work 7 days a week, 14 hours a day for 6 months and we were able to hire only around 60. Do we have a strategy?
RM: Yes our strategy is to do jobfairs and campus recruiting.
Team: That’s not a strategy. A strategy is when you analyze supply vs demand and market and industry conditions where you exploit market opportunities or competitor weakness in order to reach a specific objective.
RM: See you’re so smart. Last time we hired only 60. I expect you to create innovative ways to hire 1000.
Team: You speak about innovation as if you know what it means. In order to innovate you must be able to offer something meaningful to an existing customer need. Innovation does not simply mean doing things differently or in a new way.
RM: (baffled)
Team: Here’s my question to the Exec. Could you please ask him this: “what on earth can you do to make 1000 kung fu masters be attracted to work with us?”
RM: Our competitors can do it. Why not us?
Team: Have you heard about the concept of free will? Maybe you have. Most people have it you know.
RM: Stop talking to me like that. Of course I know about it. I have it as well.
Team: So that’s why you said yes to this project without thinking through it carefully?
RM: I had enough free will to know that if I said no to this my life would be screwed. So I said yes. I did have a choice.
Team: Your choice is to let your team suffer by accepting another impossible project.
RM: Hey you guys have to go through a lot of crap in your careers. You know I’ve been through the same.
Team: Yes and you are asking us to hire 1000 people who will go through crappy careers. If they had free will don’t you think they would choose another job?
RM: Do they have other choices?
Team: Actually, yes. Have you checked the competition lately? There are so many companies that offer so much more. Not just in terms of money but the over all package.
RM: Your loyalty to our company is in question. You want to lose your job?
Team: Have you heard the story about the Emperor’s new clothes? Too much loyalty can result in one very embarrassed Top Executive.
RM: Hey we are just making a living here. Leave us alone.
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