WE CONNECTIONS: RECRUITMENT FOR A KEY POSITION WEC End-of-Day Check-in have already found the right person. When I was in that Alex and Selina, the co-founders of WEC, sat huddled golf tournament last month, the organizers mixed up the at the round table in Alex's office. They often met there teams as a networking thing. I ended up sharing a cart with toward the end of the day to update each other on what a woman named Rebecca Ali. She works in HR at a major was happening in the organization. Sometimes, especially department store, though I can't remember which one. when there were lots of problems, the meeting could stretch She has over 10 years of experience, and I really liked her. until midnight. On this day, the news was mostly good. She was telling me that she creates a recruitment binder New projects kept rolling in, quarterly profits were higher for every new job complete with onboarding materials, job than expected, and the company's reputation seemed to be ads, position profiles, compensation and benefits informa- getting stronger. Indeed, the company continued to grow tion. .. . And she was a fabulous golfer. I am sure I can find and prosper. However, they both knew that they could her through a quick Google search. Why don't we bring her take nothing for granted. There were plenty of examples in for an interview? I think she would be perfect!" of promising companies that had fallen apart when their Let's Not Be Hasty leaders got complacent. They were determined that was not going to happen to them. Shaking her head, Selina said, "I don't know, Alex. I don't have a good handle on what exactly you're looking for in More HR Bench Strength this position. I don't want to be hasty." Alex stood up and paced around his office. "Come on, It was past 7:00 p.m. when Selina said, "Listen, maybe I Selina. I've got a good feeling about this person. You know had better go. I'm getting kind of hungry." I'm a great judge of character. Think about how nice it Alex looked out the window and noticed the increasingly would be if we could fill this position with the very first darkening skies. He said, "You're right, it is getting late. candidate we see!" Time for one more thing?" When she nodded, he continued, Selina laughed at Alex's enthusiasm. She was always "I have been thinking for some time that we need to invest amazed at his ability to jump into things with both feet. a little more in the people management side of our business. However, she knew that sometimes he jumped too fast and We've had a couple of key people leave, and I'm worried that got burned. She said, "Let me sleep on it, Alex. I don't want we might not have enough control over our HR strategy." to make any big decisions when it's late and I'm hungry. Selina looked up in surprise: "I thought that was one of We'll talk tomorrow. Okay?" She grabbed her things from the reasons why we hired Charlotte. She has training in that the table and started to make her way out. kind of thing, and she is pretty 'on the ball,' in my opinion." He nodded and said with a smile, "Okay, Selina. Fair Alex fidgeted with one of the stress balls that littered enough. But mark my words. You're going to love Rebecca his office. Some part of him always had to be moving. He when you finally meet her!" said, "Charlotte is great, but right now, all her time goes to putting out fires. We need to start being proactive, and I DISCUSSION QUESTIONS think we need some deeper bench strength. I was thinking we should hire an HR manager. You know, someone who 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of recruit- doesn't just wait for us to tell them what to do. Someone ing internally versus externally for the HR manager seasoned who can help us figure out what strategies we position? Should WEC consider both internal and should be following. In other words, I'm concerned that external candidates for the HR manager position? Charlotte is a good follower, but I think we need more of a 2. What do you think of Alex's plan to hire the person he met leader in this area." Although he wanted to keep talking, he at the golf tournament? If you were to give him some paused to let Selina consider his words. advice on how to recruit for an HR manager, what would A few moments later she responded: "I can see how that you say? Write down a list of steps for Alex to follow. might be helpful, but are you sure Charlotte wouldn't be 3. What are the best recruitment methods for finding capable of doing more if we gave her the chance?" Leaning forward to shut off his laptop, Alex shrugged qualified applicants for the HR manager position? his shoulders. "Maybe she would be able to grow into the In the next installment of the WE Connections story (at job, but I don't think we have time to wait and find out. the end of Chapter 6), a candidate is brought in for a job We need someone soon. And the good news is that I may interview during the selection process