SourceChat Transcript May 22, 2012 #SChat

[Maureen Sharib]

SourceChat here on the MagicMethod phone sourcing site every Tuesday at noon ET.  

If you want to learn more about phone sourcing consider taking Maureen's MagicMethod course!

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

SourceChat starts HERE at noon ET

11:25 AM

 

David Gillies

hello

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Hi

 

David Gillies

have you heard anything new or intriguing in the phone sourcing world lately?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Phone sourcing is always intriguing to me.

 

David Gillies

yeah, you definitely have the right attitude about it

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I think it's intriguing to a lot of people.

It's not much understood.

 

David Gillies

hmmmmm

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

?

 

David Gillies

i think people are curious, but "intrigued" is a big word

"intrigued" means that they are dying to try it.

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Did you have any spectacular failures this past week animal will want to know.

I want to know if you had any spectacular successes.

 

David Gillies

no. got some good reference from a candidate.

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Intrigued - if it means they're dying to try it I'd say no...

 

David Gillies

called they guy and got vm so stabbed around him

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

An what happened?

 

David Gillies

the guy I got, referred me to the original guy, so at least I know I have the right guy :)

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Verification is important.

How are you getting at stabbing. Richard D has some questions around that one.

Hi everyone who just joined us...

 

Richard D

Hello

 

David Gillies

stabbing can be a real bummer, especially if there are not concurrent numbers in a group. I usually don't have much luck unless I know I am in the right group

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Animal do you have any questions? I already asked David if he had any spectacular failures this past week...

 

Recruiting Animal

http://recruitinganimal.typepad.com/recruitinganimal/2012/05/cora-m...

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Richard, you want to tell us your experience with "stabbing"? (Call in in willy-nilly)

 

Richard D

I haven’t done much stabbing, I'm usually working the phone banks first

 

Recruiting Animal

You know I'm fascinated by the idea that if you are going to get names from a hard to penetrate company you have to be prepared to make the same pitch to people you've spoken to already

 

David Gillies

nice blog animal

 

Richard D

then i have been contact people trying to title ID them

 

Recruiting Animal

You call the reception. She gives you zilch. You call in at lunch. You try to get to the dept.

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I know you are animal.

 

Richard D

i've had some success this week

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Tell us about it Richard.

 

Recruiting Animal

You make the pitch to the person you get on the desk at lunch and it might be the same person who rejected you yesterday

You get thru to someone in the dept and it might be the same person who you spoke to the day before

 

Richard D

initially when I was asking for the processing dept, people began asking too many questions

 

Recruiting Animal

Liz Ryan says that they always knew when recruiters were coming after their programmers by they way they approached the front desk for names

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Did she say what they said?

 

David Gillies

how's that, animal?

 

Recruiting Animal

Maureen says it doesn’t matter if you run into the same person and give her the same pitch by accident. What do you care what she thinks.

 

Richard D

so I was asking for processing dept, if the person was not in processing I would ask for a processor I knew was already there, then at least I would get info from the person I spoke with, dept, title etc..

12:09 PM

 

Recruiting Animal

I'm trying to find the article

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

"Yeah, it's interesting that when you write about someone that is successful doing something that most recruiters don’t like or want to do that it gets no comments." ~CoraMae (on the truth)

 

Recruiting Animal

http://www.asklizryan.com/what-does-out-of-the-box-thinking-really-...

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Animal, it doesn't matter. The idea is not to be "pitching" anyone.

 

Recruiting Animal

Oh you dont pitch dear? Of course you do

Hi my name is Maureen Sharib....

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Go on...

 

David Gillies

i don't think she does....."hi, Sandy. This is Maureen Sharib. I am trying to connect with a software engineer." ...and I think that's about it.

 

Recruiting Animal

What's your name? Jenny? Hi Jenny, how are you today. I'm just a dumb old secretary trying to get thru to your XYZFRQ programmer. Do you know who that would be?

 

David Gillies

yup....no pitch there

 

Recruiting Animal

Yes there is. She's maureen sharib asking to be put thru to a job title

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Animal, I NEVER ask a receptionist how she is on any given day.

 

Recruiting Animal

she gets the boot then calls back ten minutes later saying the exact same thing

 

David Gillies

zing!

 

Recruiting Animal

If I recall dear you chit chat with the girls

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

She knows I don't give a rat's ass how she is and all that does is put her on guard...

 

Richard D

really?

 

David Gillies

Maureen chit chats when she gets to the right admin...not the front desk

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I chitchat ONLY when they open up that door.

 

Recruiting Animal

uh, i think uR wrong Dave

Maureen makes a point of being friendly

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Yes, that's true.

 

David Gillies

I DO think Animal is right. Maureen probably does call right back with the same exact question.

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I hope friendly is in my direct and simple approach.

 

David Gillies

friendly is not a pitch....ie selling

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I try to sound NICE.

 

Recruiting Animal

What I'm interested in -- what makes Maureen say - that company is a hard one. I'm getting nowhere with them

 

David Gillies

hmmm.yes

 

Recruiting Animal

the standard line is a pitch dave

trying to sound nice is what wears you out, right Maureen?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Wears me out?

 

Recruiting Animal

you went for the easy one. how about what i said b4 that

 

David Gillies

my problem is that I often get people who are willing to help but the titles vary so greatly by company that they search and cannot find anyone....then end up giving me to IT helpdesk, which is death....immediately ask for ID #

 

Recruiting Animal

I wonder if you were an IT guy yourself if you would not have that problem because you had a better grasp of the field.

 

David Gillies

I have to admit, Maureen, Animal is right. I have seen several blogs/posts by you explaining the nail biting...apprehension...that accompanies phone sourcing. It was actually nice to read that you are human after all. LOL!!!

No, Animal...the people themselves are not in IT, so terminology is wasted on them.

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

David and animal - you two have lost me. What’ the question?

 

Recruiting Animal

What I'm interested in -- what makes Maureen say - that company is a hard one. I'm getting nowhere with them

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I have NEVER expressed that any one technique works `100% of the time every time.

I think that's where you two are going...

 

Recruiting Animal

no

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Of course I hit hard companies. When I started just about all of them were "hard."

 

Recruiting Animal

Well do I have to pull out of you what makes them hard. with examples

you have a half an hour to fill don't make me force you to fill it

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

IF anyone here gets the idea that I am promoting 100% success every time out of the gate using my techniques they are very very wrong.

 

Recruiting Animal

no one is saying that dear. we just want to know what it looks like when you are not able to succeed

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Example. A receptionist (gatekeeper) asks me what my business is in calling.

Is this what you wnat Animal?

 

Recruiting Animal

yeah. the extended version of the call

 

David Gillies

not a bad start

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I've expressed many many times I don't answer that question.

 

Richard D

what do u say?

 

Recruiting Animal

yeah. why do we have to force it out of you. what did you bring us here for if you don’t want to talk?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I might ignore it (her real meaning) altogether and ask my first question (as if this is my understanding of her question).

That works occasionally.

 

Recruiting Animal

Thanks for saying as little as possible in reply

 

Richard D

ok, if that doesn’t’ work, what would u say next?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

More often I might say, "I'm sorry my information might be wrong. Let me check it and call you back - thanks!" and HANG UP.  The thing is at this point to get off the phone.

 

Richard D

ok good to know

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

My point is I don't fight gatekeepers.

 

David Gillies

yes.

 

Richard D

then how often or when would u call back?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

If she's resistant I get off the phone and do any of you want to tell me what I do next?

 

David Gillies

call back in

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I've said it 100 times.

 

Richard D

lunchtime?

 

David Gillies

get a diff. gatekeeper

...or stab around her

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I find another way in.

 

Richard D

using another extension or contact?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Yes

 

David Gillies

i have way more luck with individuals in the company, than gatekeepers. I have never collected on of those infamous lists of employees I hear about....have gotten 2-3 names max

 

Richard D

is ur approach a little different with an internal versus gatekeeper?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Not really.

 

David Gillies

no...they just don't know what to say and will usually give a half hearted look

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I always "test" the person I'm talking with.

I "test" to sense what that person is willing to give away.

 

Richard D

right ok

 

David Gillies

gotta split, you all....thanks, Maureen!

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Bye David!

 

Richard D

can u give me an example of a "test"?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Animal are you not yet satisfied? You've gone dark.

I get someone on the phone.

I identify myself.

 

Recruiting Animal

I think you should be the one offering lots of examples not me pulling teeth

It's 1230

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I listen very closely to what and how the person responds to me.

IF I sense the person will be forthcoming...

...and make no mistake, there's a lot of "sensing" in phone sourcing -

 

Recruiting Animal

Maybe you should call it phone sensing

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I will ask the person directly for what I'm looking for.

Maybe I should.

 

Richard D

ok

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

IF I sense hostility (like I do w/ Animal) I'll draw back

and try another route.

 

Richard D

that sense comes from experience

 

Recruiting Animal

Did you see the quote I posted from Mike Tyson the other day?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Right now I'm looking for mechanical maintenance engineers in the mining sector.

 

Recruiting Animal

Someone just retweeted it

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I'm calling into industrial locations - smelting plants to be exact.

It's not brain science.

 

Recruiting Animal

Its just as hard

 

Richard D

i believe u

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Many times a "factory" worker is answering.

I ask for maintenance.

That person usually spills the beans to me who is in maintenance.

Every job is different.

Some are harder than others.

My challenge on this job is to determine who is degreed.

 

Richard D

u have to talk to that person then correct?

to find out that info

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

No. My customer is talking to them.

But I have to determine, upfront, if that person is likely to be degreed.

Not easy.

There's some "sensing" that goes on w/ that.

It's not foolproof by any means.

 

Richard D

hmm ok i see

i have been doing that as well

great stuff Maureen, thanks for the info

12:39 PM

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Animal, you have any other caustic remarks?

 

Recruiting Animal

not right now Maureen

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

My point is and always has been that every job is different.

 

Recruiting Animal

#wrong

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Every job presents a different level of difficulty.

 

Recruiting Animal

you just told us that your approach is pretty much the same no matter who you are speaking to

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Some are easier and some are more challenging.

 

Recruiting Animal

yes and the thing I asked today but we should save for another time

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

It pretty much is.

 

Recruiting Animal

is what makes one more challenging than another

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

I'm not saying any differently.

 

Recruiting Animal

is this now a one hour chat?

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Soem companies are more difficult to penetrate than others.

Same applies to some industries (pharma is a bitch).

 

Recruiting Animal

I think you should start off there next week

There's only 3 of us here now and one of them is you

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Yes one hour chat.

 

Recruiting Animal

it was half an hour on twitter. smarter I think

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Ok - let's pick it up next week. Animal will you remind me where to start?

Maybe 1/2 hr is better.

 

Recruiting Animal

Yes I will never let you 4get

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

But some of these run overtime.

 

Recruiting Animal

or 40 min

 

Maureen Sharib Phone Sourcer 513 646 7306

Quite a bit overtime.

 

Recruiting Animal

see ya. Jill U missed it

SourceChat here on the MagicMethod phone sourcing site every Tuesday at noon ET.  

If you want to learn more about phone sourcing consider taking Maureen's MagicMethod course!