By: Hitesh Aurora, Manager, Software Solutions & Talent Acquisition, Managed Staffing
Unicorn by definition is a mythical animal represented as a
horse with a single straight horn which is very desirable and rarely seen.
horse with a single straight horn which is very desirable and rarely seen.
Hmm… that’s exactly what some of our clients are looking for. A
unicorn employee that has some unbelievable, unheard of skill combinations and
can achieve everything the employer desires.
unicorn employee that has some unbelievable, unheard of skill combinations and
can achieve everything the employer desires.
Surprisingly enough we do exactly that: find them UNICORNS. Question
is how are we successful where several other competitors and HR teams are struggling? Let me explain via one of the recent searches we conducted.
is how are we successful where several other competitors and HR teams are struggling? Let me explain via one of the recent searches we conducted.
One of our clients who is a very successful Boston Startup
was looking for a Senior DevOps Ninja with 5+ years of AWS, Chef and Puppet experience
and a Ninja who can code in Python and Perl ..simple. Unicorn I say.
was looking for a Senior DevOps Ninja with 5+ years of AWS, Chef and Puppet experience
and a Ninja who can code in Python and Perl ..simple. Unicorn I say.
I really didn’t have the courage to tell Jack who is COO
that I am working on 12 similar requirements looking for exactly the same skill
sets, so finding this person was next to impossible. Good AWS talent is high in
demand and are paid mostly whatever the candidate asks for. So how do we crack
the code and fill this role?
that I am working on 12 similar requirements looking for exactly the same skill
sets, so finding this person was next to impossible. Good AWS talent is high in
demand and are paid mostly whatever the candidate asks for. So how do we crack
the code and fill this role?
Our approach is unique for cloud technology roles, we use
passive recruiting more than usual active candidate search. Our passive cloud
recruiting team started contacting our existing talent pool of AWS experts,
searched via social media, spread the word via TalentBin, LinkedIn, Twitter and
you name it. At the same time the active recruiting team ciphered through most
of the existing job board. Within 48hrs with team of 25 recruiters and sourcers we
came up with about 5 candidates who were interested in the role and were good
matches for it.
passive recruiting more than usual active candidate search. Our passive cloud
recruiting team started contacting our existing talent pool of AWS experts,
searched via social media, spread the word via TalentBin, LinkedIn, Twitter and
you name it. At the same time the active recruiting team ciphered through most
of the existing job board. Within 48hrs with team of 25 recruiters and sourcers we
came up with about 5 candidates who were interested in the role and were good
matches for it.
As Jack started interviewing the candidates he found some of
them short of skills, asking for more compensation or wanting to work remotely.
Overall the right Unicorn did not exist so far. We presented 3 more candidates within the next 2 weeks. But results were same, Jack and his team were not convinced that
any of the 8 candidates presented would fit the bill. Moe, our team lead who was
in charge of this role, decided to call Jack and get an understanding of the on-goings.
them short of skills, asking for more compensation or wanting to work remotely.
Overall the right Unicorn did not exist so far. We presented 3 more candidates within the next 2 weeks. But results were same, Jack and his team were not convinced that
any of the 8 candidates presented would fit the bill. Moe, our team lead who was
in charge of this role, decided to call Jack and get an understanding of the on-goings.
Moe and Jack quickly came to the conclusion that the
candidates presented so far were all 75% to 90% matches but not 100%. Moe requested
Jack to interview his top two picks again and tell them what was missing and
how they could overcome the short comings and deliver the goods. Over the next few days final rounds of
interviews were conducted and Jack had found his Unicorn.
candidates presented so far were all 75% to 90% matches but not 100%. Moe requested
Jack to interview his top two picks again and tell them what was missing and
how they could overcome the short comings and deliver the goods. Over the next few days final rounds of
interviews were conducted and Jack had found his Unicorn.
Unicorn search works when theres a strong active and passive
recruiting team with a strong candidate network involved. At the same time there
has to be willingness from hiring managers to go the extra mile and keep
working with Staffing / Recruiting teams till the Unicorn is found…
recruiting team with a strong candidate network involved. At the same time there
has to be willingness from hiring managers to go the extra mile and keep
working with Staffing / Recruiting teams till the Unicorn is found…
Happy Unicorn Hunting ….
–Hitesh Aurora
Hitesh is the Manager of Software Solutions and Talent
Acquisition at Managed Staffing. He
builds technology teams by identifying and delivering the highest quality
talent in the market using his background in the technology sector, I
understand the technical aspects of hiring the right people into an
organization and have the ability to assess skills and team dynamics. Prior to
Managed Staffing he’s been a Director and QA Engineer at Courion, Akamai,
Apple, Quattro Wireless, and EMC
Acquisition at Managed Staffing. He
builds technology teams by identifying and delivering the highest quality
talent in the market using his background in the technology sector, I
understand the technical aspects of hiring the right people into an
organization and have the ability to assess skills and team dynamics. Prior to
Managed Staffing he’s been a Director and QA Engineer at Courion, Akamai,
Apple, Quattro Wireless, and EMC
