Let’s talk about Talent Advisors.

I really dislike using the words “recruiting” or “recruiter” when I talk about what I do (yes, it absolutely drives my marketing team nuts). I’ve had long discussions with many people about the difference between recruiting and talent advising. Talent advising goes much deeper than just recruiting a good candidate and calling it a day. 

Talent advisors are not transactional.

Some recruiters that have given the industry a bad name rely on transactional engagements. Talent advisors do quite the opposite. We work closely, as a partner, with hiring managers and organizational leaders to support their search for talent, introduce them to great candidates who fit their needs and culture, will grow with their businesses, and help them build teams that make an impact. 

Talent advisors will not put their candidates in a mass email list, where any opportunity that even remotely fits their desired position is automatically emailed to them. Talent advisors intentionally seek out the specific talent they’re looking for, build relationships with them, and support their career moves every step of the way. 

Talent advisors are educators.

Working as a talent advisor means, you guessed it, advising. 

• It’s my job to tell a hiring manager that their salary range isn’t competitive enough in the market. 
• It’s my job to collaborate with a hiring team in order to craft the right job description.
• It’s my job to help them build an interview plan and process that will get them the best outcome and deliver a great candidate experience. 
• It’s my job to help organizational leaders identify gaps in their workforce and to help them find the best talent to fill those holes.
• It’s my job to help hiring organizations see the future potential a candidate brings with them.

Being a talent advisor means I’m actually working with my candidates to feel confident in taking that career step they don’t think they’re quite ready for yet - not just to get them to land any job they might be a fit for.

Being a talent advisor means I collaborate with organizations who trust me to find the best talent for their teams, whether that means helping them see a new perspective or rethink an organizational model.

Whatever it takes to have the right outcome for everyone.

I’ve often told candidates that if they check every box on the job description, it’s not a big enough career move. If it’s not a little bit scary, it’s not a big enough career move. As a talent advisor, I am your cheerleader, your confidant, and your coach.

Talent advisors are selective.

I don’t work with just any old business that needs a position filled. And I don’t work with every candidate who comes knocking on my door or sends me a flattering InMail message (though I do love a good compliment). 

As a talent advisor, I am incredibly intentional and selective in who I work with on both ends of the spectrum. The integrity of my network is what makes me the kind of talent advisor I am. Companies don’t seek to work with me because I provide average-quality candidates. They seek me out because they know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I can and will find the person they’re looking for.

The companies that I work with are leaders in their industry. They have great, healthy company cultures where employees actually enjoy the work they do. These companies have strong ethical values. They are innovative and are doing work that matters. 

The candidates that I work with are top performers. They’re the ones that companies wish they had access to, but can’t quite seem to get in contact with. These candidates are the elite, the ones who would make you nervous if your competitor hired them. 

As a talent advisor, I’m not spending my afternoons sifting through a pile of resumes trying to find a candidate who fits the bill. When a company comes to me with an opportunity, I’m immediately going to have someone in my network with the right qualifications, experience, and attitude come to mind. If I don’t already have that someone in my network, I know where I can find them.

For me, it’s not about finding a candidate to fill a role. It’s about matching the right candidate with the right opportunity that supports the success of all parties involved.

When you are looking for support in guiding your talent needs, recruiters can be a dime a dozen. If you’re only looking for help getting applications and making sure they’re at least somewhat qualified, go for a recruiter. They’ll surely get someone through the door who fits the bill.

But if you’re looking for a partner who genuinely cares about the success of your business, who understands your company culture, and who isn’t going to settle for anything but the best, you need to find a talent advisor you can trust to take your talent search to the next level.