Part of my job as a recruiter is to get professional references on candidates in preparation for the Big Offer. I always like doing references after working with a candidate for a few weeks because, in most cases, the only things I know of them are what they've told me about themselves. It's interesting to ask three people the same questions about that candidate and see very similar answers. The whole person sort of starts to come together.
We have a list of standard questions that we ask and the responses we get are usually pretty ordinary. But check out this recent one. We had trouble getting her reference on the phone so we asked her to email her answers. Wow...
How long have you known Michelle?
I have known Michelle eight years.
What was your working relationship?
I am more a personal reference, although the extent of our acquaintance certainly allows for me to attest to both personal attributes and her professional journey.
How would you describe Michelle's personality?
Michelle is bright, warm, congenial and thoughtful. She is a thinker. A dreamer!
She is often pensive and quietly thoughtful as she ruminates and entertains her thoughts. She is a person who listens, assesses, and says just the right thing to express and punctuate her point. This trait also complements her humor; you will find she’s the person in the crowd with the well-timed witty quip.
In general terms, what do you consider Michelle's two greatest strengths?
Pride in her work¾the mark of a perfectionist is one of her greatest areas of interest.
She has a passion for words. Picture her as a prism. Give her a concept to deliver and voila’! You’ll find care and creativity refracted thru her multifaceted vision predictably every time.
Attention to detail. This is perhaps another form of her personal drive to stand behind whichever requires mark of her efforts. She is an editor at heart. She will toy with just the slightest substitution of a word or punctuation to bring just the right edge.
How would you rate Michelle's creative skills?
To rate this aspect for her is difficult because she has creativity at her core. It is a part of her person. Predictably she’s the “go-to” idea-o-matic. I ensure high return consistently in this skill area.
How does Michelle cope with stress?
Michelle has an easy-going nature that fosters stillness and balance. She is the type to harness stressful client nightmares and deadlines by internalizing it and converting it to drive. You will find whichever breed of demand hounds her, that Michelle has the focus to be rid of it!
Can Michelle take criticism well?
Yes. She absorbs it constructively. Resistance and difficulties with confrontation in any dramatic fashion is comical for me to ponder with her. Again, likely part of her easy-going nature.
Is Michelle a good problem solver? Give example.
Apologies if my responses echo of a broken record, but her eye on that grand end result makes problem solving essential to her web of thoughtfulness manifesting between the start and completion of something.
Example: Her last career change required a move. This is always a built-in hassle. Hers was layered with selling a home in a terrible market and finding housing to suit her in an area with a higher cost of living, and within a very VERY limited time. *No home buying assistance from the company¾intimidating! She did it and she did it by herself. She had to adjust her path in an unexpected way and did this to reach a goal. I feel this one story of several other examples magnifies her navigation of problems perfectly.
Is Michelle well organized? Give example.
michelle has a personal interest in crochet. It baffles me sometimes how she can mentally note price and quality of her tools and materials. She’s got a mental running tally of which nephew has a birthday coming up, or co-worker who’s having a baby. She can eye a discount or an inspirational color and stock it away or snag it up as a crafty substitution to a current piece. I think this is illustrative of the same approach applied to her work life.
Is Michelle reliable? Give example.
Michelle was raised in a small town with a large intimate circle of family, friends, and neighbors¾all classically “in your business.” Rather it be against her will or not¾she’s been accountable and reliable from the time she was a tot. Thank her busybody upbringing.
How would you describe Michelle's management skills? Give example.
As she works best with respect and confidence to her talent and diligence, she manages much the same. In sectioning a project and delegating it to others, she offers space, inspiration and reliance. After the freedom¾expect accountability.
Example: I had planned a party with her and another friend. Part of the scheme involved a giant poster requiring much toil over Photoshop and trips to Kinko’s. I was in full support and excitement over the poster until it started to look like that part was still up for grabs. I was artfully sidestepping accepting it like the plague. Michelle quips in about how talented I am and how much more on-point our vision would be with me spearheading this pivotal piece. Trepidation and avoidance for me had crept to zest by the end of it.
She had wrangled a positive approach from me in addition to the need to meet results expected with her heartfelt encouragement. All this against my will! She is certainly an asset in this way.
What do you consider areas of improvement?
Michelle could improve the scope of her work. She has predominately a history of food writing. Just as in undergrad college curriculum, well-rounded exposure enhances prospective for a skill set. Her appetite to tackle this factor has been limited by those opportunities offered in her employment. However she addresses this by flexing her creativity further in her personal pursuits. I am certain she is aware of this and keeps the opportunity to satiate this area as her dangled carrot on a stick! It is an area of improvement but certainly not a fault. She’ll dazzle you with her personal examples to shine with equivalent luster of great work in her foodservice portfolio. Simply put, she needs the opportunity. Likely why I am writing this testament today¾I’m an unknowing cog in her turning wheels rolling, no, PUSHED to the next step. Her goal in this job acquisition reflects active movements toward conquering exactly this improvement niche.
Why should someone hire Michelle?
Michelle is a selection warranting no buyer’s remorse. She embodies the simplicity of the advice to “do what you love.”
If you are in agreement that happiness is when what you think, say, and do are in harmony, then much happiness is expected from her impending future employer. She works and lives in a fashion without conflict, where action in one arena somehow seems to enhance the other.
I can ensure that hiring Michelle is a win-win exchange. She is always humble in her achievements as she constantly accepts avenues to grow. It seems endless employer articles voice aches to find exactly this ethic and attitude. With Michelle, you’ve got it.
I wish her the best in her pursuits for this position and offer my reference to the greatest extent in sound opinion and genuine reflection.
