Google vs Microsoft

Hey there kids. So first of all, thanks to Sergey for sharing his experience (http://1-800-magic.blogspot.com/2008/06/back-to-microsoft.html) of working at both Microsoft and Google. Ultimatley going back to where he found the best fit.....Microsoft.

Now even if I wasn't a Microsoftie, I would still post this to share with people. We are always wondering what are those two worlds like, what attracts people, what makes them leave, what do they find interesting once inside, etc.

I think Sergey does a great job of giving kudos to both companies for what they do that really works and also sharing his experience on what, in his opinion, doesn't work so well.

This is the stuff people want to know about but often can't find out that much because they don't know anyone that works there or they just don't find enough info online that really gives them a good perspective about the "inside".

I won't ramble much so you can take a few minutes and check out what Sergey says about his experience at both places and why ultimatley chose Microsoft (it was the best match).

By the way, Microsoft Advertiser and Publisher Solutions - the group I recruit for, is hiring. Check out the jobs page or just feel free to email me directly at bryanre@microsoft.com.

Have a good one, BR

What is a Researchologist?

People ask me what is a Researchologist and this is what my thoughts on the role:
A Internet Researcher and Name Generator, is like the Sherlock Holmes of the Internet. Who has great passion and great knowledge for the Internet and its unfathomable depths and unlimited potential. They believe in the hunt and they don’t believe in stopping. They make strategic sourcing make sense to their clients which consist of: Business Leaders and Recruiters. With the demands of finding outstanding talent and keeping the internal customers happy, they form and maintain a strong partnership with Recruiters, by working with them to create strategic plans and executing them so that clients are satisfied with the team’s efforts and results they present a strong recruiting front.
A Researchologist is a key player in building, training and setting the strategy for recruiting needs. A Researchologist is a new role that holds old school dear but allowing to break new ground in the world of the Internet, On-line Media, Social Networking, it’s a role that is new and not so new. It is all about how we think outside of the box and how we as an organization accept new adventures and grow with the never ending world of the www. Knowledge is power! Research is a need that the recruiting function needs to start accepting and get out of the old school way of thinking.

What's in a name

So I was wearing my new SPIDERS t-shirt the other day (thanks Kay) and while it's a pretty cool T, I had a couple people ask, why SPIDERS? Advertising? Representation? Recruiting ? All three as far as I'm concerned.

For us, choosing a name for our team was about who we are and what we love to do. Plus its fun and motivating. SPIDERS and it's meaning, came from the creative mind of Kay Kelison, our Researcher. It really ties in what we do and where we do it (the WEB)!!!!!

You have to admit it, it's fun being part of a team you want to help be successful, grow with, and work with others that are creative drivers in making things happen.

Above, I ask the question, what's in a name? Why did you choose your team name? Was it something that brought you all together? Some thing you created to help drive and motivate you? Separate you from others? It's all of these things and more.

No matter how simple, complex or different your name is, make sure it represents you and your team. Get buy in from everyone and then create something incredible.

The SPIDERS Team looks forward to connecting with you. BR

Bucketlist for Life

I turn 44 on Saturday April 19th - I have so much to be thankful for and I want to share my bucketlist, I think everyone should have a bucketlist and I hope this inspires them to do so!


1.Visit all the 50 states in the U.S (10 so far)
2. Travel through Italy
3.Get my paintings in a NYC Gallery
4. To tell people how much they mean to me
5. Live in Maine
6. See AIDS cured during my lifetime
7.Open a craft shop
8.Write a play
9.Cook a meal for the poor and homeless
10.Live to see affordable and comprehensive health insurance
11. Strive for love and peace
13. Play the drums with my sons
14.See cancer cured during my lifetime
15.Update this list every month

Thanks - Kay

To Our Colleagues in NYC! THANK YOU!

Thirsty for Knowledge

Recruiters, Sourcers, Researchers now more than ever want new and innovative ways to find talented candidates. More than ever, the Recruiting Arm of companies needs to be connected, informed, and provided with “emotional” value of its recruiting efforts.

If information and knowledge are one and the same, then an organization with the best information databases and technology should be the most knowledgeable. Information cannot substitute for knowledge despite the fact that to know is partly to have all the information you can get about something.

This is because knowledge, unlike information, cannot stand alone from the knower – the recruiting function. This means the best information databases and technology systems cannot result in knowledge, unless, and until processed by the recruiter’s, researcher’s, sourcer’s mind.

To motivate employees to collaborate in sharing and creating knowledge, a shift in the way the recruiting organization sees itself is crucial. Recruiting needs to have a strategic shift of vision where it recognizes itself as a knowledge organization. – To be continued

Are you always on?

And I don’t mean online. As a Recruiter, Sourcer, Hiring Manager, Executive, etc for your company, do you always have your recruiting radar on? Are you constantly looking and listening for that next great addition to the team or the company?

I ask this because I was just on vacation and while I did a pretty good job of disconnecting from checking my email, I could not help from ease dropping on conversations and inserting myself in those that I found of interest. And not just personal interests.

In one conversation I met a few Developers with one lone Program Manager in the group. I asked if he (the PM) was brought along to keep things on schedule. We had a laugh and then the networking began.

In another conversation that took place on the chair lift ride up, I met an IT Director who also turned out to be a great snowboarder. We actually hit a few runs together, following each other through the trees and talked a little shop on the ride up.

The above is what I mean by always being on. You never know when you are going to “bump” into that next great hire, by accident or on purpose. Be it on vacation, the train/bus to work, or on your bike. And we all know, you’re network can never be to big. I’ll be sending everyone an invite to Linkedin and a follow up mail with all of my contact info as soon as possible.

Will anyone of them turn into a hire? Only time will tell. That being said, I know that one of the Developers is working on his resume as he mentioned he was about to start looking for a new adventure. So there’s a start. But they are all the types of people you want know and have in your network.

Now this is not new to my fellow recruiters out there, but we all know it’s a continuous education process and series of follow up reminders to our client groups and everyone else in our company. It’s a reminder that it’s ok to seize a window of opportunity to insert yourself into a conversation, introduce yourself and even talk shop when the time is right.

Are you on? If so, let’s connect. Send me your linkedin invite to bryan.reichert@aquantive.com.

BR

By the way, the vacation was awesome. The snow was incredible at Whistler which made for some epic snowboarding.