Amitai Givertz’s Recruitomatic Blog

When John Sumser sent me an invitation to post on interbiznet as part of his Top Ten in 2006 yearend review, I could not have been more surprised, gob-smacked actually. It was not that he referred to me as “one of a few” or that he said – quite nonchalantly – the others were “leading thinkers in the industry.” The reason that I was taken aback was that anyone widely respected in the bubble – let alone the patriarch of recruiting bloggers – would place me in such esteemed company, let me post first. Well, ain’t that something? I mean, I am accustomed to being spanked on the bottom for being naughty, not pat on the head for being good:

We had lunch with Ami in a prototypical Manhattan diner the first time we physically met him. We’d been hearing from and about him while suffering the lash of his pen over the past year or so. Ami is the single most provocative and infectious of the new voices that have emerged in the blogging fury that has taken center stage in the industry. It felt like a gathering of old Bolsheviks plotting the overthrow of anything that came up. We were completely unprepared to like him so much.

As each contributor posted their take on the 10 most important things that happened in our industry during 2006 I realized – seeing that on so many points we were agreed – that perhaps I could hold my own as a panelist at some fancy-schmancy recruiting conference, command some un-Godly fee. We “thought leaders” do get paid un-Godly fees, don’t we? No? How about .01% of the take plus actual expenses? No? How about some free publicity, stroke of the ol’ ego then? Hmmm…that sucks. I might as well stay at home and blog then, don’t you think?

Thank you for honoring me John, sincerely, thank you…

- Amitai Givertz : Top 10 in 2006 (v1)

- David Hurst : Top 10 in 2006 (v2)

- Scott Dow : Top 10 in 2006 (v3)

- Kevin Wheeler : Top 10 in 2006 (v4)

- Hank Stringer : Top 10 in 2006 (v5)

- Tim Driver : Top 10 in 2006 (v6)

- Steve Levy : Top 10 in 2006 (v7)

- Martin Snyder : Top 10 in 2006 (v8)

- Don Ramer : Top 10 in 2006 (v9)

- Hans Geiskes : Top 10 in 2006 (v10)

…and who knows, one day you might invite me to join one of your panel discussions, eh? I’ll negotiate a special rate just for you, John.

While everyone is inhaling to blah-blah-blah Jobster over the rumored downsizing, dehumanizing, rightsizing, realigning and pocket lining of the business – all probably in the works, concurrently no doubt –  I would venture to make a couple of suggestions as to where we should look for inspiration in what is about to unfold…

Article number one:  I am quite sure Jason Goldberg doesn’t give two hoots what people think or say about him. I don’t know Jason Goldberg personally, far from it. I would not presume that what I suspect is true is indeed the case. But I imagine that Jason Goldberg’s need to win – survive if needs be – is far stronger than his need to be liked, loved or even understood. His low need for approval – call it hubris if you like – will make the decisions he has to execute in the coming days as easy said as they will be done. And the quicker it is done and over with the better for Jobster. Look to Jason Goldberg for a lesson in “getting on with business.”

Article number two:  Any business decision that negatively impacts the security and comfort of an employee is a damn shame. It is. But in the broader context of things, let’s not get overly sentimental if the business dictates that a number of passive candidates now become active. Isn’t that what “Tag yourself. Rank your skills. Get found.” is about? Isn’t that the Jobster model, premise?

Article number three: Until we get something concrete from Jason Goldberg, forget whether Jobster is a good business or a bad business, or is well managed or badly run. None of us on the sidelines have any direct impact on outcomes within the business so what does all this huffing and puffing contribute to the happiness or well being of someone who is about to get axed, or not, as the case may be.

Article number four:  If there are layoffs, let’s hope the opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade isn’t lost as Jobster proactively markets their displaced talent through the Jobster network. If Jobster can pull off an outplacement coup using their own network – wow! – that will make for some positive press. There’s nothing like lemonade to keep the bile down.

Article number five:  Kudos! to Jason Goldberg for being a seminal figure, business blogger. Bravo! As I read his post who cares about profits? the feeds on his blog had no fewer than 17 links to articles and comments on the speculation surrounding Jobster, his business/leadership and current predicaments. We are about to witness a case study in transparency and how authenticity can make or break a CEO. For anyone who adheres to these principles of openness and naked conversation, this is going to be an object lesson from which we all take away something of value.

In closing, as to what the final outcome of all this will be, don’t ask me. I don’t know. Unlike some, so quick off the mark, I shall wait to see. With bated breath.

Rob Robinson: this guy has got it licked.

I see this year Time magazine’s lauded Person of the Year is “You.” Anticipating widespread annoyance at this editorial cop-out no doubt, the sub-title for their cover issue is: “Yes, you. You control the Information Age. Welcome to your world.”

Personally, I think this year’s choice and tag-line is dopey. If Time wanted to draw inspiration from the “Information Age” – that phrase is so 1970′s isn’t it, hardly inspires confidence in their thinking this thing through – there is no shortage of interesting people who have made a contribution to “our world” and who could have been profiled this year, made the cover.

So, my question is this: who from the digital-, virtual-, networking-, information-, cyber-, yada-yada-space would you have put on the cover of Time this year and why?

Well, my slide into obscurity – not posting much – has been rudely interrupted. I am being spammed out of my inbox by bloggers and wannabes desperate to get their emotional needs met with a big win in this year’s 2006 Best Blog Awards, a Recruiting.com production.

It seems that some vindictive bastard nominated me. Well, thank you very much – not! In addition to the blog-spam I am now fielding emails asking me to explain what I meant by this and what was I thinking posting that, why did I migrate from my original WordPress blog to this new “Blogversity” domain – wassup with that – and will I undergo a paternity test, and do Jews celebrate Kwanzaa. Puh-leeeeeze! Have we lost our minds? There is so much else going on in the world that deserves our energized canvassing – how about genocide in Darfur for starters? Now there’s something to get puffed-up about, don’t you think?

Anyway…

John Sumser was nice enough to give me his vote of confidence on interbiznet today – gracious even, inviting my post – and I finally wangled a Mikey’s Monkey out of the Recruiting Animal. What more could this blogger want? Recruiting.com’s 2006 Best Blog Award, a hat-trick? Let the omnipresent Dave Mendoza have it, for God’s sake. I’m begging you. He seems so desperate to win that to deny him would be un-Christian.

I like John Sumser’s idea of a Top Ten to close the year out. So, here is my pick of Recruitomatic posts from 2006 – in no particular order – to help persuade you that: a) there other recruiting bloggers much more deserving of your vote than me and, b) the real prize is in being read, bookmarked even:

1. Possibility Recruiting

2. The Double Agent

3. Sex & Spammers: Lightening Strikes & Other Acts of God

4. The Naked Blogger

5. College Career Centers: Reality Online Checks Out

6. Bum, Bum, Bailey, O!

7. When Top-of-Mind is a Headache

8. Are You A Damned Liar Too?

9. Body Image

10. Atonement

There you are, there you have it. Happy Holidays!