Free Agents?

We now live in a professional world where the terms used to describe the younger generations are: “free agents", “the entitlement generation”, and “constant negotiators.”

If you are like me, until a few years back, the term “free agent” was a term reserved for professional athletes. When pro football players, for example, finally become true free agents, they get to do more of the dictating of the contract terms and are free to sign with a team proposing the highest offer (which usually includes lots of commas on paychecks.)

That attitude has trickled down to college athletes. If you are a big-time college football recruit these days, chances are you want to know about many areas in which the potential suitor (college) will support you:

· What is your academic support staff like?
· What are your historical student-athlete graduation rates?
· How much playing time are you going to promise me?
· Can I study, eat, and practice in nice, conveniently located facilities?
· How much personal interaction will I receive from the coaching staff?
· How will you use my talents within your system and schemes?

Some college recruiters have been known to go as far as creating a customized play-book which features all the plays the recruit will be used in, and how that specific recruit’s talents will be utilized and developed further.

Think about the message here: The onus for the development is not on the player, but on the college.

Now let’s compare that to today’s college students entering the job market in hot industries like accounting and IT. Do you think they want to know about how they can take charge of their own professional development? No, they want you to paint a picture for them about how you, the recruiter, will take care of that for them. Take a look at those questions again. You will find they can be transferred to your company's efforts in recruiting (and retaining) the best talent. How are you answering them?