We recently had a conversation with a local business owner who runs a cozy coffee shop by day that transforms into a music venue a couple of Friday nights per month. He sells $15 tickets to get in the door, gives away free tea, and offers a small selection of other beverages for those who choose to partake. In Wisconsin, where a fish fry and a brandy old-fashioned are typically the main event on a Friday night, we naturally asked: Any food? What kind of drinks?
His answer surprised us. He couldn’t care less what you do or don’t consume once you’re inside. You buy the ticket so the musicians can get paid. The point is for people to gather, support local artists, and enjoy the jazz music. It is not a bar.
That stuck with us. How often, when asked, can someone so clearly and confidently articulate the purpose behind what they do?
In hiring, it’s easy to lose sight of the “why”. We spend hours crafting job posts, refining compensation packages, and defining target skillsets. We comb through resumes, conduct interviews, and negotiate offers. And while all of that matters, we sometimes forget to ask the most important question… what are we really hiring for?
The goal is to find someone who believes in what you’re building. Someone who hears your mission and says, “I want to be a part of that”.
With Millennials and Gen Z making up a majority of the workforce, we have to get behind the idea that purpose influences workplace satisfaction. If you forget to integrate this into your hiring process, you run the risk of missing out on the best hire for your team.
The purpose is your music. Don’t let the noise drown it out.
Until next time,
Your Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL team
P.S. Happy to share the name of the coffee shop if you’re interested in supporting a newly opened small business and the local music scene.