I’ve been privileged to have a successful and rewarding
career as a Talent Acquisition and HR Leader. Anyone who’s worked closely with
me has heard me state “We’re not saving lives, but we’re changing them”.
Last week I received a call from my friend, Josh. A recruiting professional whom I helped place with a business partner of mine a little over a year ago. At the end of our call Josh made the following statement that stopped me in my tracks and for all the right reasons. He said, “LoriAnn, you will never know the amazing, positive impact you have not only had on my life but also my wife and sons life as a result of you helping me get this role. This has changed our lives in such big and wonderful ways. We will always be grateful to you for this".
I love what I do and the people I get to do this work with. Whether hiring internally or brokering connections for friends or friends of friends. There’s an indisputable excitement when I can marry the right person with the right role and/or connections and watch the magic happen.
This past week one of my recent new hires who relocated he and his family from Florida to North Carolina text me “Happy Wednesday… just a note to say hello and that I am glad to be here”. That! That’s what it’s all about. That life changing excitement and effervescence.
A few years ago I was responsible for hiring upwards of 30 armed guards for a nuclear plant. I’m talking AK-47 wielding badasses putting themselves on the front line of the plant to protect not only the facility but ultimately the local area from nuclear attack. The recruiting process was grueling including a written, psychological, physical and shoot test as well as a litany of interviews with varying levels of management. This was post 9/11 exuding an amplified need that every precaution, background check and protocol be followed to the strictest degree.
The requirements of the role were to provide physical protection against intrusion and acts of sabotage – at all costs. This required standing hour after hour in the hot sun, dark of night or inclement weather, with weapon in hand always at the ready. Several of the candidates I hired were from the local marine base. Soldiers who were rolling off their tour of duty seeking civilian work. Soldiers who had seen battle. Soldiers who put their lives on the line to protect our country. I must admit it was one of the most exciting career fairs I’d ever done. I mean a whole week mingling with and assessing Marines. But I digress.
One evening I called one of the candidate's to share the good news that he had been selected for one of the roles. We were paying a whopping $16.00 an hour. Again, this was a United States Marine who had recently been on the front lines of battle in the Middle East. When I presented him with the offer he started to cry, and it took him a moment to compose himself. My initial thought was it was due to the low salary, but I was deeply wrong. He was crying because he and his wife had been praying for several weeks for a new job. They had just had a baby and were anxious about how they were going to make ends meet now that he was moving into civilian life. I was humbled and moved. He promised that he would be the hardest working armed guard I’d ever hired and assured me that I'd never regret hiring him. He was accurate on both counts. He made such an enduring impression on me. I've made offers in the several hundreds of thousands, with equity, stock options, benefits galore and every kind of perk you can imagine and have yet to experience the level of heartfelt gratitude I did from this man.
I love when I not only have a hand in helping change the life of one of my candidates but when they have a hand in changing me. Clearly, I had been changed by this experience.
When I went to bed that evening, as well as after my call with Josh, I was again reminded of the power we have to change lives through our own gifts and abilities and the importance of using this power wisely. By providing the chance we give space for great change to take place. I’ve hired thousands over the course of my career. It’s never been lost on me the influence and power I’ve been afforded to dramatically change the trajectory of one’s career and ultimately their life. Additionally, I’m keenly aware that there may be a spouse, partner, children, parents, friends, etc., that will be equally impacted for the better due to them being hired.
One of my sons favorite quotes is Mahatma Gandhi's, "Be the change you want to see in the world". If you were given the ability to be a positive change agent for someone’s life then don’t waste or misuse it. Get out there and do the “good stuff”. Be the bridge that connects them to their greatest potential and opportunity. You just might change, and possibly save, your own life in the process.
