Today I have the great opportunity to write a blog post on the rare date of February 29th, the date most of us know as 'Leap Day' or 'Leap Year.'

Since this glorious day only occurs every 4 years, I thought I would list some well-known and not-so-well-known facts about the Leap Year. Get out your pen and paper folks; these are some good random facts to keep in mind for February 29th, 2016.

Famous people born on February 29

• Born 1976 - Ja Rule, rapper
• Born 1972 - Anthonio Sabato Jr., model & actor
• Born 1956- Aileen Wuornos, American serial killer
• Born 1916 - Dinah Shore, singer
• Born 1904 - Jimmy Dorsey, Prominent Jazz Big Band leader.
• Born 1792 - Gioacchino Rossini, Italian opera composer

Other Leap Year Trivia/Facts

• The town of Anthony, Texas, organizes a leap year festival. It proudly calls itself the leap year capital of the world and leap year “babies”, or leaplings, around the world come to its parade.
• In Greece, people believe it is bad luck to get married in a leap year. On the other hand, in Ireland, women can propose to a man.
• Superstitious Chinese believe that more accidents and mishaps occur during the leap month in the lunar calendar. They also think that children born in that month are harder to bring up. Nor are they keen to start a business or get married then.
• US Presidential elections and Summer Olympic Games are both held every four years and occur in the Leap Year.

Today, about 5 million people worldwide share a February 29th birth date.

Do you know any people who were born on February 29th? If not, I bet you could ask around and find someone in your network that has a Leap Year Birth Date or someone who knows a Leap Year Baby. 

A large part of what Anchor Point does is getting to know people on a personal level and finding out facts that normal consulting firms do not think or care to ask or know. Getting to know our consultants is what we are about and that is why we are now a well-known name in the Indianapolis IT Network. Whether it is finding out that they were born on February 29th, or any of the other 365 days of the year, having a more personable/hands-on approach with your consultants will make a Leap! of a difference in how you and your company grow.

Get to know your consultants and contacts! Who knows, they could have a birthday on February 29th!

 -KD

kyle.doehla@anchorpointtr.com

In the past, Indianapolis has simply been overshadowed by other large cities in the Midwest. (Chicago, Detroit, Louisville, Cincinnati)  As a recruiter, that has been a roadblock in sourcing qualified candidates for positions in the Indianapolis market.  Many companies and clients would like to see new resumes, new talent, and simply new people.  In order to make that happen, sometimes it is necessary to open the search for qualified candidates nationwide.

Hosting the Super Bowl made Indianapolis more than just an attraction to football fans across the nation.  There was an enormous buzz about how hospitable, kind, and impressive the city and people of Indianapolis were.  This has helped tear down the barrier for businesses in Indianapolis and more specifically, the staffing and recruiting industry. Massive projects are being launched all over the nation and although candidates are attracted to the compensation associated with these positions, I have also noticed their motivation to relocate to an area and city that peaks their interests. 

The NFL and other media outlets gave a positive message and outlook on the city of Indianapolis and more importantly, the culture of Indiana.  That message was heard nationwide and will be a recruiting tool in itself.  I am confident that these conversations will soon change and I will no longer hear, “Is there more than corn in Indiana?”  But instead it will be, “Indianapolis….. I have heard great things about the city of Indianapolis!”

It's a new year, and the usual predictions abound about what will be hot in 2012.  Based on what I've read and experienced first-hand, mobile recruiting is a recruiting trend we as recruiters should keep an eye on.  Prospective job seekers that aren’t currently using their smartphones during their job search, should be to maximize their search with the type of speed that only the mobile internet can provide.

 MSNBC recently reported that 25 percent of people use their smartphones rather than their computers for most of their Web surfing, so you can bet a lot of recruiting/ job hunting is taking place on mobile devices. This will most certainly only increase in 2012, so whether you are a recruiter or are a candidate seeking your next professional position, remember the internet is powerful tool that you now carry around in your pocket. In addition, this access allows for a much faster engagement process for all involved.

Have you ever left a job interview and thought you were the perfect technical fit but didn’t receive an offer? Is there more to it than just the right skill set? What intangibles are hiring managers looking for?  

This week I was forwarded an article by a hiring manager I work with and it gave me great insight into what sets one candidate apart from another. The article “Hire for Attitude” breaks down the idea that the hiring process attempts to not only gage skill set but also a candidate’s attitude. Organizations want to bring people on who have something to offer and are willing to learn and engage new concepts. The perfect candidate would have the skill set, the right attitude and a desire to learn and grow. While this person may not always exist it’s important to show the person you’re interviewing with that you have a desire to better yourself and not remain stagnant in your career. This same hiring manager refers to this intangible attitude piece as “fire in the belly”.

“Fire in the belly” can be explained as a go-getter, someone who is energetic and willing to tackle whatever problem comes their way.

Some of the ways this can come out in an interview is through your enthusiasm in answering questions, or giving examples of how you regularly read work related articles to enhance your knowledge about a subject. Interviewers will also listen to the grammar and verb tense a candidate uses to help determine a candidate’s drive. I’ve even seen candidates who based on their background and experience may not appear to be a fit for a position but fill it based on drive. This article and the conversations it has spurred have led me to leave you with this little piece of advice, be enthusiastic and passionate about the work you’re doing and want to do.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2012/01/23/89-of-new-hires-fail-because-of-their-attitude/