Recruiting Tips from the Movies

We’ve heard it said that a job interview is like a first date. That candidate coming to see you has a lot to prove in a short amount of time, and getting it just right isn’t easy. Have you considered your role in the action, though? If you’re hoping to woo some top talent, you have to be ready to pull out all the stops, too. You’ve only got one chance to make a good first impression. That’s why we’ve pulled together some top tips from romantic comedies to help you always get your man…or woman.

Some of the lessons are easy enough. You don’t want to be like Kate Hudson’s character in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. The consequences are obvious. You don’t have ten whole days to make a good impression, and you certainly don’t want to use the time you have to annoy your candidates into seeking employment elsewhere. What about some other romantic comedies, though? Are there other lessons you can glean from a bumbling fool’s on-screen antics? We think there are.

Hitch

The premise, if you’re unfamiliar, is a love coach played by Will Smith giving advice to the romantically challenged Albert Brennaman, so he can get the girl. The problem, of course, is that Hitch isn’t quite as savvy as he believes. While building up the dating process to Albert, he’s suffering his own romantic downfall—along with shellfish allergies and a disastrous jet ski ride on the Hudson river.

What can you learn from Hitch? Simple. Know the position you’re trying to fill. You can’t woo a candidate if you’re struggling to identify the job description. If you try to inflate the responsibilities or make the position seem more important than it really is in an effort to woo the right candidate, you’ll just end up with a very unhappy employee.

Convey the position with as much authority as possible, but don’t overdo it. Let your candidate know exactly what will be required, and don’t be afraid to say you don’t know if he or she asks a question to which you don’t have an answer. Your honesty will go a long way toward making a good impression. That accurate portrayal of the open position will go much further than an over-inflated job description that couldn’t possibly live up to the hype.

Jerry Maguire

This heartwarming film about a sports agent became an instant classic, spawning such quotables as “Show me the money!” The idealistic Jerry Maguire finds that his determination to do the right thing loses him the job, and he has to figure out how to get his life and career back on track. We learned lots of lessons about commitment and being a good person, but what could Jerry Maguire possibly teach us about recruiting good candidates?

The major point you can take away from the film is to target a very small group of great candidates and woo from there. If you’re trying to spread your love over a large candidate pool, you’re likely to lose some of the best talent out there. We saw this happen to Jerry when top draft pick Cushman left him hanging for another agent, while the strong and steady, though not as lovable, Rod Tidwell (played to perfection by Cuba Gooding, Jr.) should have been the focus of all Jerry’s attention. Once you’ve identified your strong and steady candidate, go all in. They’ll show you the money.

Groundhog Day

This 80s classic starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell also reveals quite a few life lessons. Weatherman Phil finds out that, no matter what he does, he must relive Groundhog Day over and over. His frustration gives way to near insanity before he realizes he has a chance to do things right and win the girl.

As a recruiter, you can learn lessons from Groundhog Day, too. The biggest, of course, is that you only get one chance to make a great first impression. While we’d love to have multiple chances to erase the day before and have another go, we must live with whatever happens. When you bring in a great candidate, it’s important to remember you just get this one chance.

Many of the above lessons are up to you to learn, but we can help with your first impression. Simply reserve San Francisco sedan service to pick up your candidate for the interviews and dinners. He or she will love knowing you’re willing to pull out all the stops for your big interview, and they’re likely to move you to the top of their coveted jobs list.

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