Turning Acquaintances into Hires – Part 3

by Ben Hess, Managing Director, ThirdPool Recruiting

Yesterday, we discussed some ways to turn networking conversations into more productive connections.

While these techniques help establish a much-needed foundation, you’ll have to build upon them to realize hires.

How do you build?

Researchers have identified two additional components that cause business relationships to grow and flourish.

These components operate as phases that build on each other.

Phase 1—Proximity. The acquaintance-to-trusted colleague transition was caused primarily by working together in close proximity, sharing common ground, and extraorganizational socializing. 

Nothing too surprising here–most real estate hiring managers are trying to accomplish this when recruiting.

But many stop at this phase and never reap the reward of going just a little bit further.

Phase 2–Solving Problems Together. The trusted colleague-to-friend transition was associated primarily with problems in one’s personal and work experiences. Communication at this transition became broader, more intimate, and less cautious.

The researchers demonstrated a clear connection between helping someone solve problems and increasing the depth of a workplace relationship.

It’s not the only way to recruit, but some special recruiting magic seems to happens when you work closely with someone and solve some problems.

• • •

Search for other Recruiting Insight Postings


LIKE TO LEARN MORE?