Why Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall Does Not Work
The internet is seductive. It is so much easier to believe it holds the answers to life’s mysteries, than to imagine what it would be like without it. Granted, it really does hold a HUGE amount of information, but it still cannot replace our feelings, values or perceptions of what we hold dear. You might be thinking: what in the world does this have to do with business? And I would have to say: almost everything.
Whether you are looking for candidates, employers or service providers, making assumptions about their ability to fill a need can get you in hot water if those assumptions are not checked out. Trusting the words without evidence can backfire. Leveraging established relationships with trusted resources can help point a candidate to the right company, an employer to the properly skilled and personality matched candidate and a customer to the right service provider. In order for the recipe to work, each source needs to be accurate about their skills or needs and stop relying on “key words” as the answer.
Relying solely on information and processes devoid of real human connections tends to leave us at a disadvantage when we are attempting to build relationships. Although the written word can explain a great deal, proof comes from observable action. It is the evidence of consistent behavior that builds trust in relationships. Being able to thoroughly articulate skills/abilities, then substantiating them with evidence goes much further than using “key words” or SEO to get someone’s attention.
Candidates that are unclear about their direction or are unable to articulate their value accurately may end up in roles that are a complete mismatch. Likewise, employers that inaccurately or incompletely describe the roles they need to fill may end up wasting considerable time trying to identify the correct solution. A company that describes a culture that is contrary to what people actually experience is another source of potential conflict. The internet can provide a vehicle, but passively using it as the destination without digging for input from real, live people can lead to huge wastes of time and resources.
Although a profile can present descriptions of a person’s competence or skills, and a website can expound on an organization’s culture, learning about real life perceptions of a situation or actions requires a conversation. The proof of the pudding comes from people that have engaged with the person or business in question. It requires advance research over time, not a click and a quick connection. Passing on referrals or chasing job postings because “key words” sound familiar is insufficient. To thoroughly understand the needs of all parties and make real matches requires more thoughtful evaluation; otherwise it ends up the same as throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.
If you have been engaged in a passive search (mining databases for job postings), or if you are a recruiter relying on databases to solve your staffing needs, or if you have a business and are trying to find the right customers, it might be time to take a different course:
- Try asking tough questions of hiring managers, team members and customers to learn what’s really under the surface before you proceed. Find out where the real pain is generating from.
- Get out and talk to people, or should I say, listen to people. Networking is more than schmoozing. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask people at networking events.
- Show interest and concern. It isn’t all about you.
- Pay attention to what people/companies need before you ask for something or try to “sell” something.
- Help others. Find ways to pay it forward.
If you have received a job announcement from a recruiter that had nothing to do with your skill set, a resume from a candidate with few skills related to your needs, or spam from a business offering a service that you nor anyone in your network would be interested in buying in a million years, then I think you know what I am talking about.
Tell them to stop throwing spaghetti at the wall.
This was a great article. Thank you for sharing.
A good ‘conscience’ reminder to not get lazy.
Awesome article that has real world implications for the Internet age.
Thanks for the awesome article. It is more difficult if u are a resident of a 3rd world nation. Trying very hard for the past 1 and half years with no positive results. Are skype interviews valid. I have lost money to people who have promised me a working visa in the west. Do not want a foreign citizenship.
Great article, Sherri! Right before I read your article, I was thinking about how much direct communication in our society is breaking down with the onslaught of the Internet, social networking, and smart phones. Most of us have a better relationship with our phones than we do with other human beings. What does that say for us as a society, let alone a job hunt? Thanks for your article. It was a breath of fresh air and a good reminder to get beyond our computers, smart phones, and the Internet and actually interact with a live human being in person!
Hi Subhranshu,
A passive search (waiting for an employer or recruiter to find you) leaves a job seeker open to potential scams. It is unfortunate that people will take advantage of someone’s desperate desire to work, but they will and do. Any offer that is too good to be true. is probably not. (I do a webinar on “Working with Recruiters”. Learning how to spot the fakes is more than I can cover here.) Skype interviews are a tool people use when distance and available time are issues.Briefly, it sounds like your goals and strategy need to be defined. Both require time and an investment to consider. In difficult situations, (like wanting to work for a company in another company) , random searches rarely work unless you have extremely sophisticated or rare skills. Get clear about which companies are most likely to need your skills, then determine which of those companies may require an off shore presence where you are located. Proactively reach out to people working in similar positions to inquire about how they came on board with the company.Look for companies that have a history of recruiting from your country if you do not have local employers that are a fit.(Please read my blogs about networking. Also look for my webinar May 16 “Strategic Networking” to learn more.)
Hope this helps,
Sherri