As the theme tune to the new James Bond movie Spectre is aired for the first time this week, Matthew Dodd, Operations Manager of Zoek, has some tips for recruitment success and what we can learn from the super-spy himself:
It was a tale of deception and denials worthy of a James Bond spy thriller, but finally Sam Smith revealed he was the voice of the eagerly awaited theme tune for the new 007 movie Spectre and today the track was finally played in full on Radio 1.
Singer Smith says keeping the secret that he was penning the theme tune, titled Writing’s On The Wall and the first to be sung by a British male vocalist in 50 years, was like having a top secret mission all of his own.
The film itself, starring Daniel Craig, is due for release next month and until then we can expect the mounting Bond hysteria that greets every new film in this most successful of franchises.
Which got us thinking here at Zoek: what lessons can the super-spy himself teach you to help in your recruiting mission?
Charm your way to success – James Bond is the epitome of British charm – and that goes a long way to getting just what he wants. Attributes such as excellent manners, a self-deprecating humour and the ability to charm the birds out of the trees (and in Bondland, into his arms) go a long way to making people want to work with you, both clients and candidates.
Know your enemies – Or in the competitive world of recruitment, your competition. From Ernst Blofeld, Rosa Klebb and Oddjob to Francisco Scaramanga and Jaws, Bond quickly learned how his adversaries operated and was always one step ahead of them. Don’t become complacent, use a little undercover espionage to research how other companies in your specific recruitment field are operating… and, as Bond knows all too well, be careful who you trust.
Be brave – OK, you may not be facing megalomaniac villains armed with nuclear weapons and aiming to kill you before taking over the world but you ARE going to be up against tough situations on a daily basis, whether that’s meeting exacting targets, delivering bad news to clients or owning up to making a mistake. Be courageous and deal with all challenges promptly. You’ll gain respect from clients and colleagues and a good reputation.
Expect the unexpected – Bond is always on his guard against surprise attack and you have to be on top of any sudden problems that arise. Perhaps you’re about to lose a major client, or your best candidate decides to turn down the position you’re hoping to fill. Spying potential challenges and their solutions before they arise will put you ahead of the pack.
Be your own gadget man – You may not have your own personal Q to provide you with an arsenal of inventions to help in your recruitment mission but you do have plenty of online technology to employ. Applicant tracking systems, remote video interviewing and mobile recruiting tools – 2.8 million jobseekers a month are believed to access job listings from mobile devices in the UK, with 67% looking daily – are all advances you need to embrace.
And of course, LinkedIn is your main social media tool but keep on top of latest developments there including Update Me, the function that alerts you every time a key candidate target makes a change to their profile. Remember to check candidates’ online presence in the form of Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook too.
- Matthew Dodd, Operations Manager of Zoek
Zoek is the smart job-searching app that can connect candidates with recruiters at the click of a button. If you are a recruiter why not register here to let Zoek help you achieve faster, smarter recruitment.
