We recently became acquainted with a gentleman we had seen multiple times in passing but never spoken to. He stopped to introduce himself, and what we expected to be a quick hello turned into an unexpected conversation about work (he was a museum curator), history (moved to Madison from the south), and life (wife, children, pets, and so forth).
As we wrapped up, he said, “Thank you for sharing your time with me.”
Had we ever been thanked for sharing our time before?
In the fast-paced world of staffing and hiring, time seems like something we never have enough of. We’re constantly a buzz – searching, screening, scheduling, negotiating, onboarding. There’s urgency everywhere.
That farewell comment reminded us that every interaction is a shared investment of time, something to be valued, not just managed. Deserving of more attention than we often give it. When candidates prep for and show up at interviews, they’re offering their time. When hiring managers make space in a back-to-back schedule, they’re doing the same. As recruiters, we act as the agent of everyone’s time, trying to ensure it’s respected, not wasted.
When we treat candidates, clients, and teammates, like their time matters, the experience becomes more meaningful, more human.
Let’s build processes that move efficiently but leave room for intention. Let’s prioritize urgency with care.
So, in the spirit of our curator, we just want to say, thank you for sharing your time with us.
Until next time,
Your Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL team