by Eliza Deang
Bullhorn Engage started out as a user conference and has since evolved into a major conference for the staffing industry at large, with over 1,300 attendees this year.
It provides added value and an opportunity to network with colleagues, staffing industry leaders and in some instances to personally catch up with friends and former co-workers. One thing that Engage never fails to achieve is to provide fun and camaraderie. At the end of the day, that is what we need. Here are some of my takeaways from this year’s Engage:
1. In his keynote address, Tim Sanders talked about the value and importance of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in hiring, as we interact with a wide range of people. While we need to hire smart and experienced people, we also need people who can understand and manage positive and negative emotions. People with high EQ are able to deal with stress, overcome obstacles, and inspire and motivate others to create a happy and healthy work environment. This is key in the workforce solutions world.
2. Art Pappas’ keynote address discussed trust in recruiting. Trust is the core component in the relationship which can never be automated or outsourced. Trust goes three ways: client – candidate – recruiter. It takes incredible talent, a great employer and the expertise of the recruiter to bring them together with the right opportunity. When you notice a lack of trust, think of it as an opportunity to showcase the company’s services, your expertise and interpersonal skills.
3. Technology – There are so many softwares out there and it will continue to evolve. In choosing the right technology, it is important to know your audience – especially in regards to your website and mobile applications. Automate to best provide a good experience for your candidates and clients. Automate repetitive tasks and leave the ones that need human interaction.
Shout out to the panel speakers of Automation with a Human Touch for a great session.
4. Earvin “Magic Johnson” delivered a keynote about partnership and collaboration. There is nothing like great minds thinking, sharing and gathering together for a common goal. It is important to find people who have the same vision, goals, values and priorities to make it work and a worthwhile endeavor. In creating a team, it’s important to establish common goals and principles among a team. Relationship management can not be automated and technology should free up more time for recruiters to focus on the important interactions with clients and candidates.
