Sourcing Chat - Aug 16, 2011 - Animalized Version

[Recruiting Animal]

MaureenSharib
Hey dudes, welcome to #schat on Aug 16, 2011. Some Receptionists (Gatekeepers) will "spill" the info that you seek w/ very little prompting. We call that a Loose Lucy.

Jason Lee Overbey
Just had one in a mining company. I played dumb. She "dug" deep for the names! Thanked her for being so smart. I had a not-as-loose lucy last week. Finally, I just threw the "h" word in. I said who in your whole org can help me then if you cant.

MaureenSharib
What titles were you after?

Jason Lee Overbey
I was looking for a job function: rock mechanics. Under a chief geologist who supervised these guys.

Recruiting Animal
Loose Lips is a blabbermouth. Is there any special skill to handling her?

MaureenSharib
LooseLucy isn't necessarily a Blabber Mouth. She's just compliant.  It's important to see if the Gatekeeper is a Loose Lucy (meaning she will talk w/out much prompting) for two reasons. (1) It saves you major time if she is and (2) gives you an idea how to proceed.

Tom Bolt
What is the ratio of Loose Lucies to the total pop of gatekeepers. Pretty rare I would think.

MaureenSharib
Not as rare as you suspect. Maybe 25% are true LooseLucys.

Tom Bolt
25% seem high without some attempt to grease them up to make them looser.

MaureenSharib
On abt 50% of my (first) calls the Gatekeepers tell me what I seek right off the bat w/ no grease

MaureenSharib
There are far more Loose Lips Sourcers than there should be. A LooseLipsSourcer is a source who says too much on the call. Can anyone give us an example?

Tom Bolt
Yeah, usually me.

MaureenSharib
What do you do that makes you a LooseLipsSourcer?

Tom Bolt
Trying to learn to not talk too much if I meet a Tight Lucy

Jason Lee Overbey
A loose-lip-sourcer gets a potential candidate on the line and talks about their company and the open position. Their only function as a sourcer is to GET NAMES first! A telephone names sourcer is only on the phone to get NAME, TITLE, and DIRECT DIAL NUMBER. All job talk is done later! If Im callin into an OR room at a hospital. Right at hello I say "Hi Animal, who are your OR Charge Nurses?" I compile my list first.

Sam O.
The differentiation between the Sourcer and recruiter role is sometimes very fuzzy. A Sourcer may get the actual candidate on the line and may need to present some information about an opportunity.

Jason Lee Overbey
We compile our lists first then go back

MaureenSharib
A LooseLipsSourcer is one who chatters nervously on the call. She says too much - explains too much. A LooseLipsSourcer, by "explaining" too much, usually sounds guilty of something. She raises the flag of suspicion with Gatekeepers because LLS sounds (and usually "feels") guilty

MaureenSharib
Here's what an LLS sounds like: "This is MarkSampson calling from ABC Company.We're in the telecommunications business & I need to know who your IT Director is."

DanSchwabell
Though if you offer enough info to knock out the "Who are you? Why are you calling?" Q's - it's a great start.

Jason Lee Overbey
A loose lip sourcer offers information. I dont offer info I always ask questions.

Recruiting Animal
RU sure that intro doesnt add credibility and ward off further questions (as Dan said)

MaureenSharib
@animal I'm sure. She doesn't (usually) care. 9 times out of 10 she doesn't give a rat's ass. She doesn't care what company you're from (really) and she sure as hell doesn't care what you do. SHE'S BUSY. You REMOVE THE MYSTERY for her.

Sam O.
What are some great "Icebreaking" statements a sourcer can make?

MaureenSharib
"Hello Renee, my name is Maureen Sharib."

Recruiting Animal
I dont think a name alone removes the mystery

MaureenSharib
@animal I think it does and it usually does for me. Tactics can be different. I suggest you do one effort on Day 1 and then the other effort on Day 2. Then compare

DanSchwabell
Many receptionists are TRAINED to axe "Who's calling? Can I tell him what this is about?" SO what then Mo?

MaureenSharib
@DanSchwabell Have you been paying attention? Whats' the FIRST thing a phone sourcer says to the Receptionist/Gatekeeper?

DanSchwabell
Aren't nearly all names of professional people on the internet somewhere already anyway?

MaureenSharib
I don't believe they are. It's an Internet myth driven by SocialMedia hysteria.

Jason Lee Overbey
Thats what people think, yes. But 1/2 or more of names I source are not on or have not updated their LI / other sites!

MaureenSharib
That's it for today - 30 minutes of phone sourcing argument - Oh I meant debate.

[Recruiting Animal]

Maureen I harrassed U thru that entire chat - because I didn't want to do any editing.

[Maureen Sharib]

This is wonderful.  You bring a certain grace to the event, Animal.

;)