As children we are told to never throw stones. Throwing stones can cause harm to ourselves, others or our surroundings. Often times we see a stone and refuse to pick it up. Maybe it’s to heavy? Maybe the stone is not appealing to our eye? Maybe we simply leave the stone where it is at because we are too lazy to lift it.

As I think about my new role in sourcing talent, I can’t help but think of everyone as a “Rolling Stone.” We all have our experiences that help shape and mold us and maybe, just maybe, we have an opportunity to be polished by a professional and lean into being the exact missing piece that fills the gaps or stops the dam from overflowing.

When sourcing talent, you have to be creative.

Sifting through resume after resume can be very exhausting. It almost feels as if we are flipping over stone after stone and cannot find the perfect gem. We begin to wonder if top tier talent is no longer under a stone and is in fact under a boulder. Because let’s be honest… after the pandemic, talent pools (where we used to find them) have become scarce. Leaving no stone unturned is no longer an idiom presented to us HR professionals at a seminar, but it's right in front of us when our "old" talent pools are not only scarce but often non-existent.

The diamonds, rubies and emeralds are in our path, we just have to be open to seeing them. We may need to provide a little polishing compound (skills training, leadership development, etc.), but the talent IS there. What can you do differently to help identify the right people? Consider . . .

• Hosting a virtual mixer allowing you to evaluate others in a social setting and have first-hand knowledge of their communication skills?
• Coordinating or participating in a community event where you interact with others outside your professional industry.
• Learning a new hobby or skill where you are conversing with a diverse group of individuals.
• Striking up a conversation with a helpful server or host at a restaurant.

Here’s the bottom line, you can teach skills. The attitude about work or a career - that’s something entirely different. You want to hire the people that will ALWAYS do the right thing especially when no one is watching. Take a chance in doing something different. Look for the gems that may have been passed over. Are they deserving of second look and a little polish?

SeeKing HR is a full-service human resource consulting firm offering many creative ways to source and secure high-quality talent. Our successes speak for themselves - let’s continue the conversation.