Lessons on Recruitment -
From Timezone
by Vina Sy-Santos

My hands were locked around the steering wheel and I was driving at breakneck (or at least enough to hurt my neck) speed. I’m leading a pack of racecars and I’m overwhelmed by excitement. Each bend in the road is bringing me closer to the finish line. No, I don’t drive, but I’m in one of these gizmos at Timezone and in a linked game with my husband (who has been driving for years). I don’t know how it’s possible, but at this point I start to think about my work as an Executive Search consultant and how these two activities are actually very similar:

The Need for Speed
The call center-business process outsourcing business is growing at a very fast pace, and to keep up I work almost the same hours to spend time with my candidates and my clients. Our team has had to improve out processes to aid our clients in hiring the volume of managerial talent. We continuously find ways to fine-tune our service delivery in order to endorse the right people as quickly as possible. We’ve faced some speed bumps, but we get ourselves back in the game without missing a beat.

Presence of Mind
While thinking about the need for speed and reflecting on the experiences I’ve had over the past year, I make a turn a little too late and hit the wall. The vehicle shudders and moves too and fro (I may have wound up with a bump on my head, nothing’s hurt—just my pride), but I get back on track soon enough. No time to lose. In a similar vein, that’s the same effect with this industry—our clients deal with so many vendors, and this has translated into our dealings with candidates as well. They are usually talking to just as many search firms. It’s so important to be aware of what’s going on around you and not to exist in a vacuum. In this instance, I look over and notice the smug grin on my husband’s face; he really thinks I’m out of the game. My competitive streak kicks into overdrive.

Focus, Focus
I want to win, but decide to focus on getting the highest score rather than just beat my hubby. When I talk to each client I want our firm to be the partner of choice and I do my best to ask all the questions that will the give me the information I need to give them the best candidates. While it’s important to know that there is competition, the key to winning is focusing on the customer.

Passion and Commitment
My brows are furrowed and I’m gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles are turning white. I love the thrill of the chase and my husband will never let me drive because I once wondered aloud what it would be like to drive at 200mph on the Skyway. With work, however, what gets me going is the good feedback from the clients and the candidates. That’s why we do what we do. I want the Philippines to become the outsourcing destination of choice globally and I am doing my part.

The game ends, and I check the score as my husband and I get out of the makeshift cars. Did I win?  Let’s just say I walked away with a huge smile on my face.