By Darla Mayse, Recruitment Marketing Specialist
A while back, I read an article entitled Scouting 102: The Importance of Fit on the Get Buckets sports blog. In great detail, the article discusses how “fit” — how well basketball players complement each other on the court — is as important as talent in constructing a team.
On a side note, let’s see if LeBron James’ move to the Miami Heat for a better “fit” will work out for him.
Back to the topic at hand. The article does a great job of explaining how and why players who did not fit the needs of one team are a perfect match for another because of how well their talents compliment the other team members’ talents collaboratively.
Disclaimer: I am not by any means a basketball expert (I only watch during playoff season). So do not fault me if I missed the entire meaning of this post. It actually peaked my interest because “fit” is also an important factor for our hiring team when considering candidates for job openings.
I have read and heard many comments from candidates venting frustration because either they were not considered for a position or they interviewed and were not offered the position. In both instances they believe they were very qualified. I understand that it can be quite frustrating to apply, feel as though you are more than qualified and never receive a follow-up call or better yet interview and you are not chosen as the most qualified candidate. I know because I have been there. These individuals may be qualified, but were they the BEST qualified? 20 years industry experience may qualify one to be placed on the list of potential candidates; however, 20 years experience does not the best qualified candidate make.
It is a matter of finding the right opportunity for you and your experience as well as the needs of the account. Scouting 102 states it best: “Building a championship team is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle — sometimes two pieces, no matter how impressive individually, just don’t fit well together.” There really isn’t a universal framework that can be applied to positions, accounts or candidates. Each account has its own unique needs as does each candidate. Ideally, all management candidates would be “five tool” managers; they would possess strong business acumen, would be innovative, technologically savvy, and have vast industry experience with a “superstar” quality. In the real world, there are very few candidates who possess all of these traits.
At Sodexo we look for candidates who not only possess most of these traits, we call them competencies, but those who possess the leadership abilities to become that “five tool” manager.
Fit should be just as important to you, the candidate, as it is for Sodexo, the employer. That is why you too should ask questions not only about the qualifications, but also about the account, its environment, the hiring manager’s management style, working conditions, hours, etc. All those things that may be important for you to have a good work experience.
For a short while I sourced candidates for our senior living segment of our healthcare market. As I would talk with candidates, I would describe the senior living facility where the job would be located. Many did not know that a senior living facility could be a Long Term Care (LTC), Assisted Living or a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) all of which possess a unique set of characteristics.
Once I had a candidate express to me that he did not want to work in a LTC because of its environment. Although he enjoyed working with seniors, he did not want to work in an environment where the residents were not fully independent and may be chronically ill and have a risk of losing someone he enjoyed visiting with on a daily basis. He explained that the emotional toll was too much for him. He would much rather work with independent active seniors. After hearing this, I knew that a CCRC would likely be a better “fit” for him.
Our recruiters are not just interviewing you for position. They are listening to your needs as well. The goal is to make it a win win for everyone. We certainly do not want to place people where they do not want to be.
So the moral of the story is this: Although you may have not been selected for a particular position or positions with Sodexo, you may be a great candidate for future positions.
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Your career should feel like a hand in a glove not a circle in a square peg. It is all about that perfect fit.-Michelle Robinson
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