Jedi Masters Come in All Forms

What is a mentor? A teacher? A friend who shows you "the ropes?" A supervisor you look up to? Or someone who unexpectedly showed you something you didn't expect? Why am I asking so many questions?

The point is, mentors are everywhere, ESPECIALLY where you don't expect.

When I worked on the agency side, I had the good fortune of sitting next the a solid group of sourcing individuals. I assimilated every ounce of information from the conversations I purposely eavesdropped on. "Looking to Network" became one of my subject lines for emails. Boolean became a second language to me. An old guy like me was like sponge absorbing cool sourcing techniques from that whole group, who were all younger than me by the way. They were are mentors in their own right, whether or not they realized it.

Mentoring Like Jedi/Sith

In recruitment and sourcing, sharing knowledge and tools has become vital as jobs get harder to fill, and effective resources dissipate. New techniques and methods help break down walls, especially when a Recruiter or Sourcer feels stuck. Bosses help get things unstuck, so obviously many bosses are seen as mentors. But look beside right you, and especially listen to the person sitting in the next cube...it could open a door.

Ironically, I've been recently viewed as a "mentor" which I never expected. In fact, someone called me a "gold mine" a few months back. I'm not a gold mine, I just know how it feels to be "stuck," and try to help. That's what we all do as Sourcers, ask any one of us or just scroll through the Sourcecon Facebook feed and see all the mentors helping out mentees (that are also mentors).

Sourcing is like the Force, it flows through us, and is a symbiotic and organic energy that can aid us through our toughest obstacles...Mentors are a key aspect in getting over these hurdles. An apprentice learns from a master, but Sourcing is a true partnership, with teachers becoming learners and vice versa, progressing our field with our shared knowledge. Google Hangouts, Sourcing Groups, Web Shows, Sourcecons, and YouTube Overviews are all ways to connect and absorb information.

Sourcing is About the People

Sourcing is about inclusion, finding that purple squirrel and getting them to be part of the process. I've always disliked declining a prospect because they applied to my job and had a month less experience than the requirement. Sourcers look for ways to include them somehow. It's what the Sourcing Community is about, about all of us, not a singular entity. It's about the people, so listen to your neighbors, no matter the tenure. And listen to your candidate, because they are a source of valuable insight as well.

The answer may be closer than you think, so listen, absorb, innovate, and teach!

#recruiting #mentor