The Hiring Paradox

The Hiring Paradox

Talking Paradox

My father is featured here in a picture leading a presentation, and I have kept this photo for the irony; every year is and isn't the year of change. Sitting in the family room with my grandfather, father, and brother during a discussion of their business experience I gained a wealth of knowledge on many topics including what is new may be old and what I learned. Now what I see happening concerning business and loss of the two-way street of generational respect while it has always been, it is also new .

I am an Experient. I wear many hats. From running a business to recruiting/hiring to training to working directly with clients, each requires different information, skill sets, and training. My skills have evolved through diverse work experience and education. The absurdity is that if I took my experience on the road to a job interview, it is not likely I would be hired. While not an issue for me, it is a failing of our society.

My friend's son is a Tiro. Just graduated from a highly recognized university his parents paid part of his tuition, but he owes a significant amount. He has a specific degree which should lead him to the first step in his career. However, it seems he lacks the experience to get more than an internship. To pay his current debt, he is working as an hourly laborer but, that's not the experience he needs. Again, we fail.

The paradox is created by the fact the Experient, with too much knowledge, and the Tiro, with too little, are at the mercy of the perceptions of others. Neither can change their plight - it is all in the opinions of those who hire and the technology programmed to weed out - by keyword and profile.

In the movie, The Intern, the Experient is played by Robert De Niro. It's on my list of films I can watch anytime, and I like it for many reasons including the evolution of Anne Hathaway's character from "Old-a-phob" to "Experience-valuer." To boil it down, it is all attitude and perception. So in looking for a company, whether tiro or experient or anything in between, check for the attitude. Are they assessing what you bring to the table or are they "profiling?"

​Every day, I'm thankful to work as I do, with people who challenge me to grow daily, regardless of what I think I know. Being categorized by someone before even knowing your name is too limited. Instead, I continue to expand my value, impact, and opportunities and the judgment is in the success I find, monetary and other. If you would like that opportunity -         let me know.