The Hidden Complexity Behind Every Hire
Last week our team participated in the 4th Street BIA Pancake Showdown. We were proud of our bacon pancakes, crispy, savory, slightly sweet, until one of our recruiters asked, “Do we have a vegetarian option?”
That sparked a cascade of thoughts. We had to reconsider: What about people who are gluten-sensitive? Or vegan? Or allergic to dairy? Within a few hours, we found ourselves reworking recipes, testing alternate flours, finding plant-based alternatives, and still trying to make it all taste good.
That’s when it hit me. This isn’t just about pancakes.
It’s about hiring, too. We customize in a volume based business.
The Hiring Process Is More Than Just “I Need to Hire Someone”
But the reality? It’s not that simple. Not at all.
It’s not just about finding a person. There are billions of people walking the planet. It’s about finding the right person—for your culture, your tech stack, your team’s dynamic, your project timelines, your compensation structure, your values, and more. It’s nuance layered on nuance.
This reminded me of the classic essay I, Pencil, where a humble pencil narrates the impossibly intricate, interconnected global web required to bring it into being—from the tree that becomes wood, to the miners who dig graphite, to the people who make the rubber eraser, to the loggers who harvest trees… no one person knows how to make a pencil. But it gets made.
Hiring is like that.
From the moment someone finds us—or we find them—the process begins. It may look like a simple job posting. But what unfolds is a network of sourcing, vetting, timing, communication, reference checks, culture fit assessments, negotiations, onboarding, and timing. Did I say timing already? It’s worth saying twice.
Behind Every Placement in the Hiring Process Is a System
Just like our revised pancake menu wasn’t just “add a veggie option,” it required knowledge, flexibility, sourcing different ingredients, understanding dietary needs, and creativity, filling a role requires more than a name on a resume and verifying that individual IS that person behind the name.
It requires judgment. It requires relationships. It requires understanding not just what’s needed, but why it’s needed, and who can thrive in that environment.
And most of the work is invisible to the employer.
Clients see the final pancake (or person), but not the dozens of trials, adjustments, conversations, and near-misses it took to get there.
Why the Hiring Process Matters for You
If you’re building a team, you’re not just filling a seat. You’re crafting something long-lasting. You’re hiring for performance, alignment, culture, growth.
The I, Pencil story reminds us that even the most basic things are impossibly complex beneath the surface. A simple pencil. A simple pancake. A “simple” hire.
So next time someone says, “I just need a person,” or “just send me someone in your system,” we smile and think of the bacon pancake, and all the other ingredients it takes to serve everyone well. Then, we add gold edible flecks to the whipped cream.
Contact us today to discover how our expert recruitment, hiring, and payroll services can help elevate your business or explore our exciting career growth opportunities and transformative training programs. Whether you’re seeking your next role or your next rockstar employee, we’ve got you covered!