curate, Author at Curate Partners

16Jan

Harnessing AI for a Creative and Productive 2024: The Next Leap in Enterprise Efficiency

Harnessing AI for a Creative and Productive 2024:

The Next Leap in Enterprise Efficiency

In the ever-evolving business world, a remarkable shift is on the horizon. By 2024, enterprise AI initiatives are predicted to catalyze a 50% increase in productivity and creative problem-solving across various industries. This article explores the facets of this prediction, weighing its pros and cons, and painting a picture of its potential impacts with real-world analogies and examples. Additionally, we delve into how Curate’s AI Advisory services are integral to navigating and capitalizing on this AI-driven transformation.

The AI-Powered Workplace: A New Dawn

The integration of AI in enterprise settings is not just an upgrade; it’s a complete overhaul of traditional workflows. Imagine an office where AI systems automate mundane tasks, analyze data to provide actionable insights, and even suggest creative solutions to complex problems.

Pros:

Unprecedented Efficiency: Automation of routine tasks leads to significant time savings and increased focus on strategic tasks.

Enhanced Creativity: AI’s data-driven insights inspire innovative approaches to problem-solving.

Cons:

Potential Job Displacement: Automation may lead to a redefinition of certain job roles or even obsolescence in some cases.

Over-reliance on Technology: Heavy dependence on AI could potentially stifle human ingenuity and critical thinking skills.

Impact: Reshaping Industries

The ripple effect of this AI-driven productivity boost is vast. From healthcare revolutionizing patient care through predictive analytics, to marketing departments using AI to craft ingenious campaigns, the possibilities are boundless.

Analogies and Examples:

AI as a Creative Muse: Similar to how a muse inspires an artist, AI provides novel perspectives and ideas, fueling human creativity.
The AI-enhanced Chef: Imagine a chef using AI to experiment with new recipes, combining flavors in ways previously unimagined.

Curate's Role: Steering the AI Revolution

At Curate, we understand the intricacies of AI integration. Our AI Advisory services don’t just implement technology; they reimagine business processes to harmonize with AI capabilities.

Strategic AI Implementation: We ensure that AI solutions align with business goals and enhance both productivity and creativity.
Balancing AI and Human Talent: Our approach focuses on leveraging AI as a tool to augment human skills, not replace them.

Conclusion: Embracing the AI-Enhanced Future

As 2024 approaches, the promise of AI in boosting productivity and creativity is not just a prediction; it’s a blueprint for the future. With Curate’s expertise, businesses can navigate this new landscape effectively, embracing the benefits of AI while maintaining the core of human ingenuity.

The material and information contained in this resource is for general interest purposes only and is based on our experience; it does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.

05Dec

Curate Partners Joins the Adobe Solutions Partner Program

Woburn, MA – Dec. 5th, 2023 — Curate Partners, a leading Strategy Consulting and On Demand Specialized Talent Services provider, is thrilled to announce its new partnership with Adobe as an Adobe Solutions Partner.

This strategic alliance underscores Curate Partners’ dedication to offering Personalized Omni Channel Consumer Engagement & Experiences in Healthcare, Retail, Finance and other settings, enabled by Adobe’s pioneering software like the Adobe Experience Platform, which facilitates large-scale personalization by streamlining the management of customer data across diverse applications.

Moreover, this collaboration will see Curate Partners leveraging Adobe’s robust tools for insights, engagement, audience creation and activation, omnichannel customer journey analysis, and journey optimization, effectively enhancing the digital experience for its clientele – combined with the newly launched Curate Healthcare Strategy & Transformation Consulting division with industry leading SME’s.

Curate’s Specialized on Demand Staffing Services further enrich this partnership, offering Adobe Certified Professionals to support customers in their initiatives, thereby creating a win-win combination for all stakeholders involved.

“We are beyond excited for this partnership with Adobe which not only allows us to provide innovative, tailored solutions but also empowers us with the ability to continuously evolve with changing customer experience demands,” said Vijay Kukreja, Chief Consulting Officer at Curate Partners.

About Curate Partners: Curate Partners is a Strategic Consulting and Specialized Talent Services provider specializing in aiding clients navigate transformations like improving customer experiences and crafting competitive digital innovations. From strategy formulation, project roadmap design, to resource planning, talent fulfillment, and program execution, Curate Partners, with its network of adept product managers, CX leads, UX designers, and other critical technology experts, is committed to enabling clients to make significant business transformations. www.CuratePartners.com

Media Contact:
Jess Rousseau, Senior Marketing Manager
Curate Partners
jess.rousseau@curatepartners.com | 833.828.7283 | www.curatepartners.com

21Nov

Navigating the Data-Driven Healthcare Revolution: Insights from Curate Partners

Navigating the Data-Driven Healthcare Revolution:

Insights from Curate Partners

Introduction:

In the realm of healthcare, data stands as a pivotal element in catalyzing high performance for hospitals and health systems. Its role in facilitating informed decision-making, effective change management, and meticulous performance monitoring cannot be overstated. It’s through the lens of accurate and transparent data that healthcare institutions can pinpoint improvement areas and monitor their growth trajectory.

In an insightful Q&A, Vijay Kukreja, Chief Consulting Officer at Curate Partners, delves into the intricate challenges of formulating data strategies that elevate care delivery and expand patient access. Vijay’s journey includes a tenure as Chief Digital Officer at BCBSMA and leadership roles in data & analytics at various healthcare organizations, augmented by a recent MITxPro certification in AI in healthcare.

The Critical Role of Data in Healthcare Performance:

Q: Can you elaborate on the significance of data in enhancing performance in healthcare settings?

A: Today’s healthcare leaders are more intent than ever on instigating impactful changes and meticulously tracking performance. This ambition hinges on the availability of robust and transparent data, capable of being dissected down to individual patients, providers, or units. The necessity for data to be prompt and risk-adjusted is paramount. While data perfection is aspirational, top-tier organizations strive for near perfection, benchmarking their data for precise and meaningful comparisons.

Strategic Data Utilization for Enhanced Care and Access:

Q: What strategies are leaders adopting to improve care delivery and patient access through data?

A: The focus is on a “north star” metric, a guiding light that aligns with patient care imperatives and facilitates benchmarking against peer institutions. It’s crucial to encompass all patient data, irrespective of their payer status, to foster comprehensive insights. Consistent data utilization for driving change is vital, involving key stakeholders such as physicians in the goal setting and review process. This strategy extends to every level, from units and departments to individual employees, ensuring everyone is aligned with the collective objectives.

Data Solutions and Emerging Innovations:

Q: What challenges can data address, and which innovations in this space excite you the most?

A: Data stands as a formidable tool in refining both clinical and administrative workflows. AI’s role is increasingly prominent, finding applications in human resources, customer service, and claims coding. It’s revolutionizing radiology, enhancing both accuracy and efficiency in image reading. The horizon holds immense promise for AI in complex care decision support, early detection systems, and tailored medicine. The journey to fully unleash AI’s potential in healthcare is ongoing and exhilarating.

Future-Ready Investments by Healthcare Leaders:

Q: What are the key areas of investment by healthcare leaders to future-proof their organizations?

A: The current investment landscape is heavily skewed towards data warehousing, visualization, and AI, particularly in back-office operations. Efforts are being directed at refining coding, documentation, and optimizing workflows in critical areas like operating rooms and emergency departments. Short-term focuses include charge capture, patient data analysis, and workflow optimization. Looking ahead, the emphasis will shift to predictive analytics, risk stratification, clinical decision support tools, and enhancing provider workflows.

Curate Partners’ Role in Shaping Healthcare Futures:

Q: How is Curate Partners aligning with healthcare leaders to realize mutual objectives?

A: At Curate Partners, we’re in lockstep with healthcare leaders, setting data-driven goals anchored in industry benchmarks. In scenarios where best practices are nebulous, we undertake studies/workshops to unearth insights and devise solutions working with our healthcare SME’s and leaders. Our commitment to integrated data platforms, data as a product augmented with AI, is unwavering. We have partnered with organizations like Snowflake and Databricks to bring the latest in data technologies in parallel with specialized purple squirrel talent experts and SME’s. This dedication aids hospitals in reducing costs, enhancing quality, and strategic growth. Our collective aim is to identify and deliver the most efficient, quality care for every patient. By focusing on strategic data investments, we’re not just adapting to the changing healthcare landscape; we’re helping shape it, with an unwavering commitment to improving patient care and simplifying healthcare complexities.

Media Contact:
Jess Rousseau, Senior Marketing Manager
Curate Partners
jess.rousseau@curatepartners.com | 833.828.7283 | www.curatepartners.com

10Oct

strategic addition of Vijay Kukreja to its executive leadership team

Curate Partners Strengthens Executive Leadership Team and Advisory Practice with Innovative Digital Transformation Veteran.

Curate Partners Strengthens Executive Leadership Team and Advisory Practice with Innovative Transformation Veteran

New Chief Consulting Officer with 25 years of expertise tapped to advance Curate Partner’s Advisory Practice excellence and expand its customer experience offering.

Woburn, MA – Oct. 10, 2023 – Curate Partners, a leading Advisory and Talent Solutions provider specializing in guiding clients through complex business transformations such as improving customer experiences and fostering competitive digital innovations, announced today the strategic addition of Vijay Kukreja to its executive leadership team. A seasoned veteran in the industry, Kukreja has previously served as the Innovation Lab Leader at CVS Health and Chief Digital Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. In his new role as Chief Consulting Officer, Kukreja will be instrumental in advancing Curate Partners’ advisory capabilities across Business Strategy and Planning, Digital Customer Experience (CX) Acceleration & Transformation, Technology Modernization & Solutions, Data & Analytics Strategy, and AI Ethics & Governance.

“We are very excited to welcome a long time, and valued customer, Vijay Kukreja to the Curate Partners family and executive leadership team,” said Dan Foley, Co-founder and CEO of Curate Partners. “Having worked collaboratively with Vijay, we’ve seen his ability to attract and build world class teams to help organizations with key transformations. He is a champion of collaboration, innovation, and growth, with an extensive background in business and technology. We are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to now share this great mind and resource across all of Curate Partner’s customers, helping them to stay innovative, while driving growth and greater insights.”

Kukreja is a transformational leader with 25+ years’ experience in Healthcare, Pharmacy, Insurance, eCommerce, Marketing, and Technology, specializing in Transformational Digital Customer Experiences with innovative technology-driven solutions. Over his career, Kukreja has been responsible for multiple award-winning product launches, leading healthcare innovation labs, solving customer engagement needs and filing patents across top US Health & Payer Organizations.

“I’m thrilled to spearhead the Consulting Practice for Curate Partners, where I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformative power of blending customer-centric strategies with high-performing teams. In an era marked by cutting-edge digital tools, the advent of AI, and a wealth of available customer data, falling short of delivering real-time, personalized, interactive experiences is no longer an option—be it in B2B or B2C landscapes,” says Kukreja.

“He adds, ‘My enthusiasm for innovation and digital CX transformations in support of consumers is in perfect harmony with Curate Partners’ core mission of elevating people and talent as catalysts for change. This human-centric approach not only aligns with our values but is also instrumental in empowering our clients to gain a competitive edge—be it through strategic technology modernization, data and analytics optimization, or delivering unparalleled digital customer experiences.’

About Curate Partners

Curate Partners is an Advisory and Talent Solutions provider that specializes in helping clients navigate transformations such as improving customer experiences and creating competitive digital innovations. From strategy development and project roadmap design to resource planning and talent fulfillment, and program execution, Curate Partners has subject matter experts, and a network of award-winning, hands-on product managers, CX leads, UX designers, digital, data and other critical technology experts to enable clients to make impactful business transformations. www.CuratePartners.com

Media Contact

Jess Rousseau, Senior Marketing Manager
Curate Partners
jess.rousseau@curatepartners.com | 833.828.7283 | www.curatepartners.com

27Jun

Layoffs too soon? Q2 jobs report is better than you think.

Layoffs too soon? Here’s why the Q2 jobs report is better than you think.

The Q2 jobs report offers many valuable but contradictory insights. Jobs are up, but average work week productivity is down. It’s not perfect news – but it’s not the bad news we’ve come to expect.

I’ve seen many ups and downs in my career. I believe that the latest wave of layoffs was an overreaction.

As a leader, you must understand: companies that are unwilling to embrace large-scale change risk being left behind. There’s a lot of change right now indeed. But there are also things you can do today to prepare your business for the upcoming rebound.

Let’s talk about the trends that I see.

Things aren’t so bad. They’re just less predictable.

The May 2023 jobs report was eye-opening: employers added a total of 339,000 non-farm jobs, far outpacing analysts’ expectations. Companies like Salesforce are crushing their numbers, with year-over-year revenue up 22%. And the annual inflation rate seems to be slowing – in May, we saw it at its lowest in 2 years.

But despite all that, every week brings yet another tech layoff. Why? It’s what companies traditionally do during downturns. But people must have short memories – because what about the last few years has followed tradition?

What this means for you

I believe this quarter’s job report contains something deeper than a story of missed expectations about jobs. It’s the start of something that could be big. Are you going to be ready?

Rethink, re-engage, reinvent

So many forces are coming at us at once. There’s the explosion of generative AI; the reckoning between the remote and the return-to-office paradigms; and not least, the looming shift away from full-time work and towards consulting.

Productivity is complicated
What about productivity, though? It’s down, and we can’t ignore that. There were two previous quarters of GDP miss.

Productivity is a complex and nuanced problem. Some of the problems stem residually from the pandemic lows; some, perhaps, from a culture that pivoted too hard into remote and hasn’t yet found its way in the new world.

Remote must be a strategic – not inertial – decision

Regardless, now is the moment to redefine how and where their people will do work moving forward. Remote vs. onsite must be a strategic business decision weighing culture, connectivity and the specific nature of your business to get your best work done. Your decision here must engage employees to jointly explore how to produce better work rather than continue a pandemic paradigm in a post-pandemic world. Because if you fail to address productivity, morale (boosted by isolation and a lack of real-life connection to the people you work with) will continue to suffer too.

This moment is an opportunity for leaders to re-engage with employees on the subject of productivity in a way that they could not do in the past few years.
New staffing models can help productivity and labor hoarding issues
It’s also the perfect time to explore alternative or flexible staffing models, such as engaging consultants or fractional roles. You can take advantage of the great talent newly on the market and reinvent how great work gets done at the same time.

One of the more contradictory insights from Q2’23” jobs report is the gain of “labor hoarding”, when businesses hold on to people in anticipation of future downsizing– and to the detriment of productivity. But what if you could bring in experienced specialists, ready to engage right here and right now, bringing new ideas? What if you could automate some foundational workflows with today’s AI technology and make room for a different way of showing up? For many post-pandemic workers, a “jungle gym” approach working on project-based initiatives and untraditional hours is a boon towards the flexibility they’ve come to expect – and they’re ready to produce and contribute in new ways.

As things change, you’ll need to redefine how you measure productivity too. You’ll need to think less about 9-to-5, and more specifically work to define what good productivity means for you. Why those numbers? How do you get there? What does it mean to engage or show up? How are you measuring your success?

What this means for you
Don’t let productivity problems fester. It’s a good time for you to step in and focus – not by doubling down, but by engaging with your team on productivity and its implications. Involve them in the solution that works for your particular business operating model. Experiment.

We’ve weathered storms of change before – only the weather was worse.

The last time I saw this many changes at once was during the dotcom boom of the 90s, where many tech leaders started their careers but lacked the foresight to understand the global implications of their work. In the dotcom crash, low interest rates gave startups what felt like easy money; but many large ones folded when capital dried up as their business plans, operating models, and products were underdeveloped. The crash was deep: more mature companies fell victim too, sometimes losing significant market value.

Yes, we saw several bank and company failures this year. But were they massive? At a global scale? Maybe… but not at the dot-com scale. These are smaller, more controlled failures that did not have the same profound global economic effect. It may not feel like it, but little by little, we’re learning.

Many voices say that generative AI could be the transformative shift unlike all others. I’m curious to see where that goes. Will most jobs be wiped out? I don’t think so yet. Some will be, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s another opportunity for evolution and reinvention. I see AI as having great potential to solve future problems – with population rates falling, will we have enough specialists in the future? Jury’s out.

What this means for you
We can look to lessons of the past for context, but I believe this tech recession isn’t a doomsday moment. Instead, we’re seeing a renegotiation of boundaries from an unprecedented last few years. It’s how we react to it today that matters.

What you can do now

Uplift your team’s morale. Don’t neglect this. Your team is your most important asset. You must make sure that your team is on the right path forward by addressing residual morale problems from the pandemic, working in isolation, and industry layoffs.
Embrace the changes. You can’t ignore AI and other new technologies that could upend how you do business – but you can embrace them and stay attuned. Explore how they could help you do business. Learn from others’ mistakes. Stay curious.
Never stop innovating. Innovation always drives success in times of change, but don’t limit innovation to your product development. Innovate how you develop your team: lean into flexible staffing models such as contract or fractional hires. Bring in new strategies to solve problems that you haven’t solved well before.

I believe that change is fundamentally good. Only the people who don’t change are the ones whose journey stops where they are now. Whatever we’re in for, it’s going to be interesting!

22May

UI + Visual Designer

UI + Visual DesignerMinnetonka, MN Opportunity Details Contract to Hire UI + Visual Designer Minnetonka, MN Apply Now Job BriefWe are looking for a UI and visual designer to join our team and help define and drive the future of our member and care team digital experiences. You will create user flows, storyboards, wireframes, interaction details and […]

06Apr

Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory

The Curate Cares Team came together at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory, an organization that aims to provide essential items to homeless or low-income children for their homes, schools, and playtime. Cradles to Crayons accepts a range of donations that are new and like-new items for children aged newborn to 12 years old. The Giving Factory is the warehouse where volunteers hand-select items for specific children and distribute the packages.

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Volunteering at the Giving Factory Warehouse involves hands-on processing of the children’s items that are donated to Cradles to Crayons. Within the warehouse, there are several stations that include inspecting, sorting, and packaging donations so that they are ready for distribution to children.

This year our team of volunteers was assigned to the “outfits” area where we assembled outfits for boys and girls aged newborn to 12 years old and inspected the quality of the clothes one final time before heading off to the families! It was a rewarding experience for all of us to contribute to such an important cause!

There are so many different ways to get involved with Cradles to Crayons. Volunteer for a shift in the Giving Factory, donate funds, or donate goods to make an impact today on a child living in poverty.

30Mar

Celebrating Women’s History Month 2023

To celebrate Women’s History Month we wanted to hear the voices of the incredible women of Curate Partners! We asked them to tell us how they feel empowered at Curate Partners. As employee empowerment is defined as the ways in which organizations provide their employees with a certain degree of autonomy and control in their day-to-day activities. This can include having a voice in process improvement, helping to create and manage new systems and tactics, and running smaller departments with less oversight from higher-level management.

The responses we got were amazing and inspiring. Our women employees shared stories of being given opportunities to lead projects, having their ideas heard and implemented, and feeling supported by their colleagues and managers. We’re proud to have a workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we’re committed to continuing to empower our employees to reach their full potential. Here’s to the incredible women who have paved the way for us and those who continue to make history every day!

How do you feel empowered by Curate Partners?

Emily Brash, VP of Sales and Healthcare Solutions

Curate has given me the opportunity to use my years of experience and creative approach to help lay the groundwork for new client acquisition strategies and internal process improvement opportunities. Rather than dictating a roadmap for me, they have asked me to recommend a roadmap and then come together with the leadership team to collaborate and finalize it. It’s a great feeling to know my company and its leaders trust my leadership and judgment at this level. This environment absolutely makes me feel empowered and appreciated!

Jess Reumann, Recruiting Consultant

I feel empowered at Curate because I feel like I am heard and valued. I am given the opportunity to voice my opinions in a healthy way and know that I am being listened to with respect. Everyone is supportive and encouraging and takes the time to recognize the achievements on both a personal and professional level!

Cathy Porcaro, Senior Account Executive

I feel empowered at Curate Partners by knowing I have a seat at the table and can bring my ideas to my managers and peers without judgment. By fostering a growth mindset culture, Curate has empowered me to be creative in my role as an AE, think outside of the box, and do things differently than they have always been done!

Meghan Arsenault, Administrative Assistant

Curate Partners values my current role and people have gone out of their way to tell me, and my fellow coworkers, how our jobs matter. We are constantly verbally appraised, giving us the proper support in our role. I know that what I do in the company is important, and it is a great feeling when others express the same.

Meghan Kouble, Operations Manager

As a woman employee at Curate Partners, I feel a sense of empowerment every day. This stems from the company’s culture, which places a strong importance on recognizing and rewarding hard work and dedication. By providing ongoing training and development, many networking events, and other programs, supports a work environment where everyone has an opportunity to succeed.

Samantha Tilley, Account Executive

I feel empowered at Curate Partners because my thoughts and ideas matter! I feel like we are equal in this company and we all help each other when needed. Teamwork makes the dream work! I am so happy to be a part of a company that feels like family!

Jess Rousseau, Senior Marketing Manager

Throughout my career with Curate, the entire organization has continually given me the support and freedom needed to succeed in ways I never thought were possible. My team treats me with respect and trusts my ideas and contributions for the company. I’m SO proud to work for a company who’s female staff represents over 50% of our workforce! It’s empowering to know we all have equal opportunities to truly make an impact here.

Taylor Shea, Senior Account Executive

Curate has invested in my development since Day 1, valuing my ideas and asking for my opinions. This has created a professional confidence that I couldn’t be more thankful for!

Theresa Sanchez, Recruiting Consultant

I feel empowered at Curate Partners because together we created clear and attainable goals and expectations and I feel encouraged and supported throughout the process of achieving these goals. Also, I feel heard and like my opinion matters which is super empowering.

Natasha Thomas, Manager of People and Culture

Curate has helped me do the work that I am passionate about. I had a vision coming into this organization of what I wanted to do, and I have been encouraged and empowered to do it. The autonomy and trust that they have given has allowed me to continue to focus on our people and culture. At our core we are a people first organization, so making sure that we continue to create an environment that promotes inclusivity, diversity, equity, and belonging is my priority. At Curate every day I feel empowered to make positive changes that will impact not only our team but the partnerships outside of our organization.

Logan Lopus, Marketing Intern

Throughout my internship at Curate Partners, I have always felt empowered. From day one, I was given meaningful work and was able to work alongside other employees. I also appreciated being given the chance to take on larger projects and felt that my opinions were heard and valued. Overall, I believe Curate has created an empowering work culture that encourages its employees, including interns, to make important contributions to the organization.

Corina Bardwell, Recruiting Manager

Transparency from leadership, the ability to grow into new roles, and the autonomy to implement processes and procedures that are best suited for the recruiting team are some of the ways I feel empowered at Curate. I always feel valued, both professionally and personally, and I appreciate that my achievements are recognized and celebrated. Our culture provides equal opportunities for all, which makes me feel like everyone is playing on the same field.

Courtney Holland, Account Manager

I feel incredibly empowered here at Curate. My ability to have a voice and manage a work-life balance with 3 young kids without questions, micromanagement, or concern; all while feeling like I make a lasting contribution to our business and team. My peers and especially my manager look to me for advice on managing situations, providing input, and general “What would you do?” scenarios. I honestly could not be more proud and thankful for the culture and feeling of contribution that this company provides me every day.

Keep up with more content like this on our Instagram and follow Curate Partners here!

16Nov

4 Traits You Should Look For In A Recruiter

With 10 million job openings in the U.S., recruiters have an important role to play. Unfortunately, the stigma of the salesy recruiter—the type that cares more about filling the role and less about making sure the candidate is right for the role, makes a lot of candidates hesitant to work with recruiters.

At Curate Partners, we break the sales mold. Instead of acting like salespeople, our recruiters act like matchmakers. They operate as the liaison between the job-seeker and the company, ensuring all parties are aligned and fully vetted before making introductions.

We are committed to fostering a positive job-seeking experience for all candidates. This means building strong relationships, actively listening to candidates’ needs, and putting ourselves in their shoes. Our candidate-first perspective helps us identify and deliver Purple Squirrels for our internal teams and clients.

If you’re seeking new employment opportunities, here are four traits you should look for in a recruiter.

Empathy

Recruiters need to be empathetic towards their candidates. This means putting themselves in your shoes to understand what you’re looking for in your next position. Preferred salary ranges, work-life balance, and career goals should all be prioritized. Think of your recruiter as a friend leading you through the next phase of your career.

We care deeply about our candidates both before and after they are placed with companies as consultants. Here’s what one of our reviews on Glassdoor says about our process:

“Curate has an incredibly supportive, collaborative, and progressive team…Their positivity, awareness, and care for each team member is something so rare to experience in the workplace.”

Creating a healthy work culture starts in the hiring phase—empathetic recruiters set the tone for the companies they place candidates with.

Open-Mindedness

Open-minded recruiters look beyond the resume to find their Purple Squirrels. Yes, recruiters must acknowledge a candidate’s career experience and educational background, but they should also consider candidates whose backgrounds are unique and multi-faceted. Whether you took a traditional path—high school, college, entry-level roles in your field, and so on—or a more eccentric path—your recruiter should see you as an individual and try to understand your skillset beyond just skimming your degree and previous position.

Recruiters must remain open-minded and recognize the value of hiring diverse candidates. This means reaching out to individuals of all gender identities, races, and cultural backgrounds and not letting any biases—even the unconscious ones—get in the way of selecting the candidate who is the best fit.

Transparency

Transparency and integrity are crucial for building trust. At Curate Partners, our recruiters are honest about open positions and transparent about what our company stands for. This integrity helps us build candidates’ trust and find the right individuals for each role.

Another Glassdoor review mentions our team’s transparency:

“[Curate Partners] treat both their internal employees and full-time/contracted hires with the utmost respect and professionalism. They are a company of real people you can trust to stay transparent and honest throughout the entire hiring process. Once you are a Purple Squirrel, that professionalism, respect, and transparency do not dissipate.”

Strong Communication Skills

Last but certainly not least, recruiters must display strong communication skills. This is the name of the game. Recruiters must converse with their candidates clearly about a position’s requirements and company expectations. They must answer questions, provide insights and advice, and provide honest feedback in a timely manner. As a candidate, you must feel comfortable communicating with your recruiter and, by extension, the company you are applying to work with.

We are proud to say that our recruiters exhibit all 4 of these traits. We remain hyper-focused on making our candidates feel seen, heard, and appreciated while also finding the best fit for the companies we serve. With our people-centric model, our recruiters aren’t just finding bodies to fill gaps; they’re finding great opportunities for skilled individuals—a win-win for the client and the candidate.

If you’re looking for a people-first approach to recruiting, contact us. We’re here to help!

02Nov

How Curate Partners Makes The Hiring Process More Human

Now more than ever, it is crucial for recruiters to connect with their candidates. This means listening to their needs, empowering them to ask questions, and communicating with empathy. While automated technologies are becoming more prevalent in our industry, the candidate’s experience thrives without templates and call scripts.

Here are five ways we make the hiring process more human in 2022.

We are transparent with candidates regarding salary ranges, benefits, and workplace culture.

Being transparent and communicative with your candidate about what each open position entails is crucial. This includes salary ranges, benefits, and information regarding workplace culture. If you withhold this information or tweak the truth for your benefit, you are not putting enough value into your candidate’s needs. This unethical practice sets your relationship up for distrust and failure.

Our Recruiting Manager, Johnny Cail, says it best:

“I’ve found the best way to help a candidate feel empowered to ask questions is first to tell them all the ‘insider information.’ Many recruiters keep this information to themselves and try to get the candidate at the lowest numbers possible to maximize profit, but I just don’t see as much success going that route,” Cail explains. “I’d rather gain someone’s trust by telling them what rates we typically see and trying to get them at the highest number, so they are excited and eager to embark on the journey of interviewing.”

We find the balance between technology and the human touch.

Automated technologies are known for saving time. As a result, more recruiters rely on new programs, from auto-scheduling to automated emails. However, these technologies can negatively impact candidate communications and searches when used in place of humans rather than in partnership with humans.

Don’t let an AI bot be your company’s voice when sourcing candidates. Human connection is necessary when determining if someone is the right fit for a role. Data points and resumes don’t tell the whole story.

“Technology can help in so many ways, but being reliant on technology is hard to sustain in this industry for the long term,” Cail says. “Since each candidate’s experience differs, putting some prefabricated process in place is wrong. Instead, you need human touch to finesse the intricacies of each person and situation.”

Strike a balance between promoting efficiency and using your intuition to make your hiring process more human.

We recommend video interviews and visual interactions over phone calls and email threads.

Since most open roles are remote, most interviews are face-to-face via video conferencing programs. Visual interactions put a face to a name and can give you a sense of who your candidates are in the moment. Seeing facial expressions, hearing tone of voice, and watching your candidate’s body language will help you better understand what excites your candidate, what concerns them, and how they present themself in a professional setting. Email simply cannot compete with the audio and visual components of video calls. Additionally, video interviews add a layer of professional intimacy that builds trust and understanding for both parties involved. These are the reasons why we set up video interviews for our candidates.

We incorporate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI+B) initiatives into the hiring process.

Making your hiring process more human means showcasing your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. According to Glassdoor’s Diversity and Inclusion Workplace Survey (2020), 76% of U.S. employees and job seekers say that a diverse workforce is important when evaluating companies and job offers. 21% claim they would not apply to a job at a company that does not publicly state its goals to increase DEI+B initiatives.

Whether discussing these core values with candidates or expanding their networks, recruiters and hiring managers should focus on creating an environment that values fresh perspectives and welcomes diversity.

At Curate Partners, we have implemented DEI+B initiatives into the hiring process by partnering with non-profits across the US to provide more opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. We provide our clients with the most diversified candidates for the job—and remain committed to closing employment gaps.

“In hiring, there’s no better way to exemplify your commitment to DEI+B than setting expectations for all candidate searches to be diversified,” Taylor Shea, our Senior Account Executive, says. “[By doing this], inclusivity becomes a learned behavior rather than a term.”

We put ourselves in the candidate’s shoes.

We think about the job search from the candidate’s perspective. It can be arduous to continue sending resumes and cover letters that are mostly left unanswered.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What type of position would fulfill my candidate’s career goals?
Why is my candidate looking for a new position?
What are my candidate’s values, boundaries, and strengths?

As a recruiter, you must remain empathetic to your candidate. Remember that your mission is to lead each candidate you work with to the next step of their career journey. If you embrace the human connection, you will create a mutually beneficial safe space for your candidates to grow and find their dream jobs.

If you’re looking for a hiring process that is more human, contact us.

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