What motivates you?

Part of my role recruiting technical talent relates to understanding motivations. Did your career choose you or did you choose your career? When speaking with highly skilled professionals, my senses are stimulated as we review the characteristics of their motivations, what influenced their career direction and why this was important?

Individuals that enjoy what they do are much more concerned with the role and how it relates back to their ability to continue growing versus does this job meet my minimum requirements, namely, being able to support the need for food, water, clothing and a place to stay (although, I think most people want to be challenged by their work, this is not a necessity).

I enjoy working with self motivated individuals. On going learning and professional development for self motivated individuals leads to greater job satisfaction; one is capable of managing their ability to aid in the corporate growth and achieve long term objectives related to career progression. It also provides challenge.

Depending on the individual, this may also encompass the ability to achieve the greater good. The ability to address societal issues and affect the masses versus a select group. Believe it or not, individuals working in the private sector in technical roles can and do possess this desire. Sometimes these individuals are so insulated in their roles it can be difficult to reach them directly. Their needs, at this point in time, are proverbially being met.

As a contingency recruiter, I am working with a customer, client or business entity which has an opening which needs to be filled. In a "best in class" employer, one of the first questions a job seeker will need to address for the employer relates to motivation because candidates with the appropriate technical skills can be identified but not necessarily the right motivation. Customers enlist my aid to identify candidates based on this criteria, it relates to my passion and I can appreciate their pain.

Third party contingent direct placement recruiting is more than just a skill match although it may not seem so to on-lookers; employers and candidates require that the individual recruiting is knowledgeable about their field and their customers. Over the course of my career, I have had many successes and probably, equally if not, more situations of failure. The one certainty lies in my ability and willingness to identify the motivating factors essential to make a credible placement which is a win-win for all parties.

So what motivates you at your core as it pertains to employment? Are you willing to take a closer look?

Recruiting the best talent!