Ten experienced talent acquisition professionals share their must-read books for this summer, and the beverages that perfectly pair with each read. The book suggestions are meant to be hone your recruiter senses and give you perspective on leadership, finding top candidates, and improving your own career path.
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2. Jeremy Langhans
Manager of Global Talent
Acquisition at Expedia
Riveting read:
Blink by Malcolm
Gladwell
Summer drink:
Scotch. Don’t skimp on
the good stuff.
It's a book about rapid cognition, about the kind of
thinking that happens in a blink of an eye.
In Talent Acquisition we make quick assessments
all the time. When reviewing someone's online
profile, during that initial conversation, and
within seconds of meeting them.
This book will help you understand what's really
happening in that dynamic moment.
Image by Big Max Power
3. Riveting read:
Talent is Overrated by
Geoff Colvin
Summer drink:
Sands beer because I will
be in the Exumas.
Glen Cathey
a.k.a. Boolean Black Belt
VP of Sourcing & Recruiting
Center of Expertise at
Ranstad Sourceright US
Why?
Because it thoroughly debunks the myth of
innate/natural talent, and provides a very
specific and effective formula that anyone can
follow to become great at their job (or anything,
for that matter).
Image by A Guy Taking Pictures
4. Riveting read:
Who Moved My Cheese
by Spencer Johnson
Summer drink:
Slushy vodka lemonade
(w/ reggae band in the
background)
Brett Underhill
Director of Recruiting
Programs at Prudential
This is a book about dealing with change --
a very relevant topic, given the shift
recruitment has taken with the rapid and
ever-changing pace of technology (such as
social media, mobile, search engines, etc.).
Gone are the days of "post and pray." The
old tricks will not work in getting the "A"
players.
Image by szeke
5. Riveting read:
The Essential Guide to
Hiring and Getting
Hired by Lou Adler
Summer drink:
Throwback Mountain
Dew
Michael Ganiere
Strategic Sourcing Leader
at Johnson Controls
It's a great read for new recruiters, but I really
appreciate that he combines tips for HR/TA
people, hiring managers, AND candidates
throughout the entire book.
There are a lot of great tips about how to
manage hiring manager/candidate expectations
expectations, and how to make them partners in
the whole process.
Image by Tim Donnelly
6. Riveting read:
Great by Choice by Jim
Collins & Morten Hansen
Summer drink:
It’s winter in Australia,
so Ardbeg Corryvreckan
malt whisky.
Keith Wilkinson
General Manager People and
Services at Origin Energy
The book reveals a number of key traits and
attributes demonstrated by leaders who have
delivered results.
We should not focus on “filling roles” but on
discovering the best talent available for the roles
we know we have now, and then finding the
people that will take our organizations forward
into the uncertain future.
Image by Maria Ignatova
7. Riveting read:
The Little Red Book of
Selling by Jeffrey
Gitomer
Summer drink:
Baileys on the rocks
Jason Seiden
CEO of Ajax Workforce
Marketing
The similarities between sales and recruiting are
numerous.
This book will help recruiters hone their ability to
find, connect with, and engage the right people for
their organization... and hearing familiar ideas
presented from a sales point of view may make it
easier to break old habits and try new ideas.
Image by SergioTudela
8. Riveting read:
Lean In by Sheryl
Sandberg
Summer drink:
Starbucks Quad Venti
Skim Iced Latte
Rachel Book
Associate Director of Global
Talent Attraction & Diversity
at AT&T
Every recruiter I know can write a book
about the coaching and (sometimes
career-related) therapy we provide to our
candidates.
So when you’re out recruiting on campus
or interviewing entry-level candidates,
help boost their confidence and inspire
them to lean in using Sheryl’s advice.
Image by Topyti
9. Riveting read:
Born to Run by
Christopher McDougall
Summer drink:
A nice spicy Gin and
Tonic
Ted Meulenkamp
Global Program Manager
Employer Branding and
Social Media at Roche
A journalist discovers a tribe in Mexico that is
capable of running for days on end without
stopping, wearing virtually no shoes. While
investigating how it is physically possible, he
discovers that the human body is designed as a
perfect running machine. Not the fastest, but
capable of running animals to exhaustion. 

What does that have to do with recruitment? Go
back to the basics. Perhaps it is time to kick out
the gadgets and do what we are supposed to be
good at.
Image by cuellar
10. Riveting read:
The Road to Wigan Pier
by George Orwell
Summer drink:
A Dark and Stormy
Drew Koloski
Lead Recruiter at Offerpop
If you can get past the left-ish undertones, you'll
be blown away at the lengths Orwell goes to in
order to grasp the struggle of the unemployed in
Britain in the 1930's.
I think all recruiters should take a mental break
from hiring managers pushing us to hire the
most talented person ever, and think about
unemployment and how we can make things
even a little better.
Image by laszlo-photo
11. Riveting read:
To Sell is Human by
Daniel Pink
Summer drink:
Modelo Especial Cerveza,
extra cold, no lime
Marty Millington
SVP of HR and
Organizational Development
at Quantros
Whether we are influencing friends or pitching
new ideas, we spend a lot of time trying to
“move” people.
In this book, Pink talks about the “ABC’s”
(Always Be Closing) of persuading others. He
offers keen insights about effective
communication, while suggesting ways to
perceive and transform our world.
This book has changed how I view and interface
with others.
Image by iujaz
12. What should every recruiter read this summer?
Share your riveting reads with hashtag #recruitingread
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Cover image courtesy of joeltesch.com