Don't be afraid to ask me

A question has been dominating my thoughts the last few weeks - am I unapproachable as a business resource? 

How else to explain that the 100s of people that I have met at conferences, engaged with via social media and even worked with over the last 20 years or so never seem to call to ask for my professional help?  And it isn't just me; I have had similar discussions with a number of colleagues, independent thinkers and operators, who get rave reviews for their knowledge and expertise during a conference, seminar or workshop and then wait for the phone call (or email or text message or tweet) which seldom comes.

Do we need a new theme song? 
"Call me, don't be afraid you can call me, Call me and I'll be around...."
(amended lyrics, with apologies to Petula Clark)

Or is it just that people don't really know what we do?  We are seen in that micro climate of the conference, the workshop, the blog or the Meetup - perhaps we are then pigeonholed into that mini area of expertise that we spoke of or demonstrated on the day.  Does our 'expert' status frighten away possible clients?  Have we not showcased the range of individual skills, talents and help that we can offer?

OK, then, here is my stab at it.  With thanks also to friends and colleagues who have recently sent messages out via LinkedIn and email to explain what it is that they do, helping me to better understand the real value they can bring to an organisation.

Who is Alan Whitford?
I have over 20 years experience in recruitment, human resources, talent management and technology solutions from all sides of the table; as a 3rd party recruiter/headhunter, as an in-house recruiter, defining recruitment processes and strategy, recommending and selecting technology solutions, building and implementing recruitment and web solutions and most recently have built a pan-European community and knowledge portal for the recruitment industry.

Wow, all of that then? But what do I really do?

I can:
    ▪    Deliver my passion for recruitment and the central role it plays in a company's success, no matter what the company size
    ▪    Run in-house workshops/healthchecks on all aspects of recruitment, including the emergence of social media
    ▪    Provide company strategic direction and change management consulting
    ▪    Brainstorm and create business strategy
    ▪    Develop and implement candidate attraction strategies and tactics
    ▪    Focus on candidate relationship management
    ▪    Define and select technology solutions to better enable recruitment and HR processes
    ▪    Measure your recruitment success with ROI workshops

In a nutshell, I can help you define what to do and then help you to actually get it done.  No project or task is too small or to large to work on.   My services can be purchased as stand-alone discrete solutions by the 1/2 day or full day,  or combined in an end-to-end strategy project.  Every completed project has the additional benefit of our free 30 day e-mail review and consultation service, with unlimited questions, helping to ensure that you continue to apply your newly-acquired knowledge to the best effect.

My Key Message: (and a final song lyric - Thanks Elvis)

If you got a problem, I don't care what it is
If you need a hand, I can assure you this
I can help.

How can we stay in touch?
Tel:          +44 7971 864620
email:     [email protected], [email protected]
Skype:     awhitford
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alanwhitford
Twitter:     alanwhitford

And, as a final note, if I can't help you, I almost certainly know someone who can and will happily refer you on.

Thanks for listening. I look forward to working with you.

Best regards

Alan

Comments

[Alan Whitford]

Thanks Stephen,

Appreciate your vote of confidence.

Cheers

Alab

[Stephenodonn]

I can vouch for the fact that Alan is indeed as approachable as he is knowledgeable.