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How do you measure a nation’s strength? By the size of its army? By
its wealth in natural resources? By its balance of trade?
Sure. But a more meaningful
metric might be found in the vibrancy of its workplace. A nation
that values its talent and creative energy can only strengthen its
world position, while a country that clings to a complacent job
culture is sure to lag behind.
In some corners of the world, there's a stigma attached to high
achievement. The taller a flower grows, the faster it gets pruned.
How sad. Where I come from, ambition meets an entirely different
fate: The taller a flower grows, the faster it gets recruited. A
Nation Obsessed with Work Pound for pound, Americans are the most
productive people on earth. We work longer hours and take fewer
vacations than anyone else. But it’s not because someone holds a gun
to our heads. We work hard because we generally love what we do. And
with Blackberries and cell phones as enablers, there’s practically
no limit to our collective obsession with getting ahead.
Is a manic work ethic healthy? Probably not. But for better or
worse, it’s wired in our DNA. When we love our jobs, we work like
crazy. And if we happen to hate them, so be it—we work all the
harder to make a change.
Maybe Americans take the pursuit of happiness too literally. If a
job doesn't satisfy, we feel it’s our right—if not our duty—to move
on and find another. And with increasing regularity, they're found
with the help of recruiters.
A World-Wide Trend
Recruiting isn’t just a Western phenomenon. From Kiev to Dubai, and
Bangalore to Beijing, recruiters are increasingly woven into the
fabric of achievement. Like an army of bumble bees, we
cross-pollinate the tallest flowers in our respective fields. A
million times a day, we wage war against occupational inertia and
unrequited goals. A good shuffling of the deck tends to reward
meritocracy and punish the status quo.
Recruiters turn dreams into reality and ideas into action. We help
narrow the distance between the drawing board and the production
line, between research and development, and between proof-of-concept
and corporate profitability.
Economic Patriotism
Not long ago, a recruiter called to cry on my shoulder. “I work
really hard,” she said. “And I get so little recognition in return!”
“That goes with the territory,” I said. “But never forget: your work
is extremely important.
“Every time you make a placement, a candidate becomes happier and
more productive. A family’s economic situation improves. An employer
becomes more competitive in the global economy. And ultimately, your
success—and the success of your many clients—makes us all a little
stronger.
“So go ahead,” I said. “Hold your head high. Take pride in your role
as a recruiter, and for your service to our country.”
And in the blink of an eye, the crying stopped as her love of job
and country were joined.
Happy Independence Day, everyone |
© Copyright 2010, BlackDog Recruiting Software Inc.
