Hiring

I am back in the mode of reviewing resumes once again, something I rather enjoyed in my government job of many years.  I had forgotten just how varied they can be.

This time I’m helping recruit an executive director for my synagogue.  It’s a critical role, so it’s really important to find the right person.

We have had dozens of applicants for the position, including several rabbis and several other people who never mention the word Jewish in their application.

What is interesting first of all is that everything is done electronically, contrary to the above picture that shows someone filling out an application.  People who seem to know what they are doing include a cover letter and a resume with an electronic signature.

My first pass through the applicants divided them into 3 groups:

-- A small number of those who are obviously not interested in Judaism, but are simply interested in a job.  Several of these were poorly written or difficult to read.

-- About half that seemed overqualified for the job, undoubtedly wanting a higher salary than we can pay.

-- The remaining group that seemed like they might be a good fit and not want an unreasonably high salary.  In many of them there was a phrase that caught my eye and my interest.

I’ll make another pass through them tomorrow.  For now my eyes are bleary from a long drive and too many hours staring at applications.  Oddly enough, this is one of the parts of my old job that I miss.  I was good at hiring people.