Recruiting is a very competitive business. We are constantly striving to place our candidates with the very same customers as our competition and are motivated by this competitive spirit that is in our DNA. Without it, we’d be left in the dust.
I have always found it interesting how competitors fear each other. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. How ridiculous that notion is to me! In the IT Recruiting industry I very much seek camaraderie and find it especially inspirational when it comes from my competitors. I look forward to sharing the war stories – running into them at trade shows and other events – talking about our industry. I have actually done business with those who would be considered my competition and find those partnerships solid, professional, and successful. It’s a win-win for both parties.
Yesterday we invited our friendly competitor – InfoMatrix – to make dinner at the Ronald McDonald House with us as part of our SGC Gives Back commitment. We couldn’t have had more fun – standing side by side chopping onions, peeling potatoes, and slicing apples. There is a definite friendship we share (as well as clients) yet we don’t let that stand in our way. We worked together as one while making dinner for 70 hungry residents staying that night at the House. It suddenly didn’t seem to matter whose candidates were being hired for any particular job. What filled our minds were thoughts of people needing us right now, families who had no idea who we were or how we were connected. They just knew we made that kitchen smell like home with the scent of apple crisp, scalloped potatoes and hams baking in the ovens.
It was interesting what we learned about each other. Brian, our “Bachelor”, needs to keep his talents on the basketball court. The President of InfoMatrix needs a splat mat underneath her whenever she is peeling apples. Our Director of Recruiting looks like a race car driver when she wears the pink onion peeling glasses. InfoMatrix’s recruiter baked her first cake last night. We were taking selfies and texting photos to each other the entire time. We had a ball.
At the end of the day I went home tired but feeling so lucky. I am in a business I love and have amazing employees. I have competitors who I can call on to help me in both business and benevolent situations. A lot can be learned about someone in the kitchen. They may have been wearing SGC logo aprons while they cooked, but InfoMatrix held their own while significantly contributing to our successful meal. Cooking with the competition made it a great day. I can’t wait to partner with InfoMatrix again in business AND in the kitchen.
