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Technology- Friend or Foe

We have all heard the saying that you should not putting all your eggs in one basket.  With technology becoming more advanced and easing the barriers of communication, it is hard to resist the temptation.  Before you upload all your contacts, appointments, and mp3s to your handheld mobile device, consider reading this article on why daily planners and in person meetings are not so obsolete.

Building a Rapport

Smart phones are the jack of all trades, offering internet access in addition to the standard texting and calling features of a regular cell phone.  They allow its user the ease of emailing a client versus calling or sending an informal text.  Face to face meetings between candidates and technical recruiters can ultimately be eliminated with webcam programs such as Skype.

While this makes communication instantaneous, IT recruiters Boston sacrifice building a relationship with applicants in the process.  Crucial elements such as tone and demeanor can be misconstrued or a question regarding an IT job that could be answered over the phone in two minutes could take six email threads to finally reach a consensus.  Webcam meetings are ideal only for IT staffing representatives and clients who work great distances apart.  When IT recruiters meets with a candidate for the first time, it should always be face to face.  You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so why not make it the best impression you can offer?

Losing Your Phone

Whether your phone gets water-logged, crushed, or lost, you will feel a sense of immediate withdrawal if you live by your phone.  Appointments will be lost, contact numbers erased, and, unless you have insurance, you are looking at a pretty penny to replace your mobile device.  Regardless of if it was your fault or not, people who regularly lose or break phones are not considered responsible.

Imagine receiving a text message from an unknown number, do you really want to risk the embarrassment of asking a prospective client “who is this?”  If you find yourself without a phone, be sure to have a hardcopy contact book to update and keep in touch with clients.  Mark appointments in a separate calendar as well.

Crossing Boundaries

Remember to keep your personal life separate from business.  What looks like emailing during a business meeting could be a candidate playing a game or checking Facebook on his phone.  Stay focused and if necessary, put your smart phone away where you cannot see it or be easily distracted.

While technical recruiters are practically glued to their phone, they must remember to keep things professional, especially in emails.  Sloppy grammar, abbreviations, and poor spelling habits might be acceptable to their friends, but they must be mindful of the relationship with their clients.

Technology is not necessarily an evil, it just depends on how you use it!