Past articles by Thom and myself have discussed some of the things that make The JobLine stand out from other recruiters. In fact, Thom’s article in this issue also focuses on what makes us different. But, I’d like to shed a more personal light on this difference by sharing my own experience in searching for a new opportunity through Thom – because I am in the unique position of having been a JobLine candidate as well as a JobLine recruiter.
In 1996, I was working in sales for a company that produced connector plates and engineered wood products. My role was largely to support our customers and to promote our EWP products to the design and building communities. I had been happily working for the company for about four years when I began to be concerned about changes that seemed to be coming – changes to my compensation package and changes to my work location.
I decided that if I were going to have to move for work, it would be to a location of my choosing – somewhere warmer than Northern Ontario seemed like a good idea – and so I began my search. Of course, at that time the internet was little more than a novelty, so I turned to ads in Don Carlson’s Automated Builder magazine and contacted a few recruiters.
Some recruiters ignored that my experience was largely in sales and design and sent my resume off to companies looking for production managers. Others ignored my desire to stay somewhere in eastern North America. One recruiter convinced me to interview with a company in Florida, although I had reservations from the outset. I had a good conversation with the general manager though, and that evening we went to dinner with the owner. The first words out of the man’s mouth, even before hello, were “If you are coming to work for me you will have to sign a non-compete agreement.” Shocked, I told him I hoped we would enjoy a pleasant meal and some good conversation, but if his first concern before any discussion about my skills or their plans was protecting himself after I left his company then I probably was talking to the wrong company. I later learned, and found that my recruiter knew up front, that the company had turned over their complete office staff twice within the last two years, often with the help of the same recruiter that sent me there. Obviously, he wasn’t looking out for me or any of the other people he had placed, just looking for his next placement fee.
On the contrary, when I dealt with Thom and The JobLine, he had a very different approach. We talked at length about my experience, my skills, my goals, my then-young family, and what I was looking for in my next employer. Rather than firing my resume off to everyone in his rolodex (yes, we used those then), he took the time to consider my skills against the needs of one of his clients. When I interviewed with that company, I felt like they already knew a lot about me, and I certainly knew a great deal about them. Although I didn’t end up being hired – the company had put a freeze on hiring non-U.S. residents – I felt like everything had been aligned before I ever set foot in their door.
Ultimately, talks between Thom and I led to a business partnership and the creation of Component Systems Institute, where we trained truss designers from across North America. And now, 27 years later, we are working together again. As I talk with candidates now, I recall how some recruiters worked compared to The JobLine, and how that impacted my experience. And when I speak to component manufacturers, I work hard to be sure I understand what makes them different and what they are looking for, so I can be confident that the candidates I present are a good fit.
When you’re looking to make a change and want to work with someone who’s interested in working with you, I hope you’ll give us a call. We want a great match between employee and company, so that everyone benefits from the results.