I have been thinking for the last week about what I should write this months blog on. My daughter was home for a visit, and I was discussing this with her over lunch. I wanted to stay true to form pulling in family experience and the tie to my job as a recruiter. She threw some ideas at me by asking about each family member and my recollection of periods in their lives, this idea was born. Sorry honey, this one is focused on you (my husband, Ron)!

When I first met Ron, he was working in a very comfortable position (as a worker bee) with a large company with good pay and benefits.  Overall, he was content. He had become successful due to his hard work, training, and experience. Fast forward four years, and Ron was still sitting in the same role, only his contentment wasn’t as strong. He was being tasked with more and more responsibility without advancement in title and pay and the thought about “What else is out there?” was beginning to creep in. Also we as a family were interested in moving back to our home town where both sets of parents lived. A job was posted for a management position, and he pondered this move. He thought, “Will I be successful?”, “Do I have all the skills listed on the job description?”, “Would they hire someone who has not officially been labeled a manager before?”. He talked himself out of this opportunity.

Desire however, had been planted and was growing as was his yearning to learn more, do more, and stretch. Three months later, Ron went to a baseball game with a vendor from his current role.  The vendor had invited several clients to share a box at the field, and fate had his back. While at the game, an old high school classmate was also invited to the box, and he was the Director for a subsidiary of Ron’s work.  He was looking for a new team member for his division to help in the building of a small and growing department. Ron came home and told me all about the opportunity. He knew he could do this role and it provided our family the opportunity to move back home without losing his tenure. He applied, was interviewed, and hired. After just over 1 year of putting his skills to use, having the will to perform and succeed the department was growing and thriving. He received an “exceeds expectations” on his first annual review but he was still missing the ability to stretch.

Fate wasn’t done yet. Ron heard of another local company who was looking to develop a new department. They were looking for a Manager level to come and lead the efforts to build this new department. They offered a much better package all together., however doubt was starting to creep in again. He began to question, “Was I just lucky with my success in the last year?, “Can I do what they want to the scale they want it?”, “I’m happy where I am, I like my work friends, I have only been in this role 1 year … is it time to stretch again, should I take this chance???”.  I called Ron’s dad and had a heart to heart with him and asked why he thought Ron was doubting himself. I said “I know this has to be his decision, but I hope he isn’t making this choice out of fear”.  With both Ron’s dad and I challenging his doubts and digging in on his why, Ron decided to take the leap.

I will always remember the week leading up to each new role and his inability to sleep, and the constant bantering with himself on if he made the right choice. He was stretching and he was afraid of failure. The good news is that Ron is still at the same company and again built a highly successful department and team.  He has been promoted again and is the Director of his department.

Now you ask, what is the tie to recruitment? When I talk to candidates, I am always trying to assess their SKILL (ability to do the job) + WILL (their want to work hard, grow, learn, and perform) = STRETCHING, or, as I call it a “stretch candidate”. I consult with every hiring manager I have about “stretch candidates” and why they are important to consider. If their skill level is a slightly lower but their will level is a high, you will find an employee who (if you invest the time and energy), might become your top performer. They have the will to not let you down and put in the work to get the job done and done well. Take the chance hiring managers! They are worth it, and will be loyal to you for taking the chance on them!

P.S.: Candidates, do not let fear stop you. Apply for the stretch roles and when fate aligns, take the chance! Have faith in the recruiters who are true Talent Advisors that they are speaking to the hiring teams about the golden “stretch candidate”.