Recruiters, Bees and Patriots

Bill Radin

How do you measure a nation’s strength? By the size of its army? By its wealth in natural resources? By its balance of trade?

Sure. But a more meaningful metric might be found in the vibrancy of its workplace. A nation that values its talent and creative energy can only strengthen its world position, while a country that clings to a complacent job culture is sure to lag behind.

In some corners of the world, there's a stigma attached to high achievement. The taller a flower grows, the faster it gets pruned.

How sad. Where I come from, ambition meets an entirely different fate: The taller a flower grows, the faster it gets recruited.

A Nation Obsessed with Work

Pound for pound, Americans are the most productive people on earth. We work longer hours and take fewer vacations than anyone else. But it’s not because someone holds a gun to our heads.

We work hard because we generally love what we do. And with Blackberries and cell phones as enablers, there’s practically no limit to our collective obsession with getting ahead.

Is a manic work ethic healthy? Probably not. But for better or worse, it’s wired in our DNA. When we love our jobs, we work like crazy. And if we happen to hate them, so be it—we work all the harder to make a change.

Maybe Americans take the pursuit of happiness too literally. If a job doesn't satisfy, we feel it’s our right—if not our duty—to move on and find another. And with increasing regularity, they're found with the help of recruiters.

A World-Wide Trend

Recruiting isn’t just a Western phenomenon. From Kiev to Dubai, and Bangalore to Beijing, recruiters are increasingly woven into the fabric of achievement. Like an army of bumble bees, we cross-pollinate the tallest flowers in our respective fields. A million times a day, we wage war against occupational inertia and unrequited goals. A good shuffling of the deck tends to reward meritocracy and punish the status quo.

Recruiters turn dreams into reality and ideas into action. We help narrow the distance between the drawing board and the production line, between research and development, and between proof-of-concept and corporate profitability.

Economic Patriotism

Not long ago, a recruiter called to cry on my shoulder. “I work really hard,” she said. “And I get so little recognition in return!”

"That goes with the territory," I said. “But never forget: your work is extremely important.

"Every time you make a placement, a candidate becomes happier and more productive. A family's economic situation improves. An employer becomes more competitive in the global economy. And ultimately, your success—and the success of your many clients—makes us all a little stronger.

"So go ahead," I said. "Hold your head high. Take pride in your role as a recruiter, and for your service to our country."

And in the blink of an eye, the crying stopped as her love of job and country were joined.

Happy Independence Day, everyone.