Meet Jennifer McClure – Covering Recruiting and Networking for Fistful of Talent…

Jennifer McClure Jennifer McClure

Jennifer McClure is a Vice President at Centennial, Inc., a Cincinnati-based recruitment and coaching firm, where she’s charged with strategic recruiting efforts, executive coaching and business development for the firm.    When she’s not looking up values on NotchUp, she’s rating human capital values by ranking the individuals on her speed dial, aka Seinfield…

See Jennifer’s Rants and Riffs on Fistful of Talent by clicking here…

Talk to Jennifer via email ([email protected]) or at LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook…
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10.5 QUESTIONS WITH JENNIFER McCLURE

1.  The elevator just closed and you’ve got 30 seconds to pitch the random reader on who you are and why they should read your rants.  Go..

Hi. Nice shoes (handbag, suit, tie, etc.). Where’d you get those? You look really great in that. You also look like you’re really good at what you do and I bet you work with people in your fancy job. So you probably should be reading Fistful of Talent. All the cool kids are doing it. You’ll learn the ins and outs of Talent Management in no time, and then you’ll probably get promoted, and you’ll be able to buy nicer shoes (handbag, suit, tie, etc.). And oh by the way, I’m the one who’s new to blogging that shows up on there every now and then after weeks and weeks of obsessing over one single post, so you should encourage me and comment on those posts, and Digg them and Stumble them, and… Oh, you have to get off now? Well here’s my card so you can call me to thank me when you get that promotion o.k.?

2.  Now for the mundane – break down your location, title, company/firm and what you do for a living..

I work at Centennial, Inc., a Cincinnati based firm that provides services to clients in the areas of executive search, executive coaching, career transition coaching and individual outplacement. I originally connected with Centennial as a career transition coaching client, and through that process decided to focus my talents in the areas of recruiting, coaching and connecting business leaders – which is exactly what Centennial has done since 1975. Fortunately for me, I was able to convince them to take a chance on adding a former HR pro to the team, and hopefully it’s worked out for all involved!

3.  One more question that everyone expects.  What’s the reason you’re in this game? (why do you do what you do?)

My dream job is to combine Mike Rowe’s position on Dirty Jobs – minus the tight spaces and poop – and John Ratzenburger’s job on Made in America – minus the RV and plus a private jet and 5 star hotel accommodations. But since I’m still working on finding an Agent (any takers?), that hasn’t happened yet. However, my job as a Recruiter and Coach provides me some of the same benefits of that job and more. I get to work alongside of a variety of real people who do really interesting jobs at a variety of interesting companies AND I’m able to partner with them in finding, attracting, recruiting and developing their talent. That’s very cool.

4.  If you’ve ever been to a professional baseball game, you know batters from the home team get to pick their own theme music as they walk from the dugout to the plate.  If we ever have a FOT convention, what theme music will you come out to pump the crowd up and why?

Whitney Houston’s I’m Every Woman. Describes exactly what clients and my family expect from me. Example: "I can read your thoughts right now – every one from A to Z". And I can even sing it just like Whitney too. Loud. If you’re in my car. And I don’t know you’re there…

5.  Let’s stick with the baseball theme.  If you’ve ever been to a pro game, you also know that the visitor doesn’t get to pick their own music.  The home team picks that for them, and it’s usually less than stellar as a means of attempting to crush them.  If you could pick theme music for your arch-rival to walk into a conference room to, what would it be and why?

Beck – Loser. I’d just play the chorus over and over to  let them know how they should really feel. But the lyrics tell the story again. They’re complete nonsense. And that’s what a lot of my competition speaks.

6.  Finish the following sentence – "When I’m interviewing, I can tell within one minute that this thing isn’t going to work out because _________…"

Of their shoes… If the shoes don’t fit (with the way they are dressed), we must quit (the interview). I’m telling you, this really, really works. Trust me on this one. I’ve got stories…

7.  Name the actor/actress that will portray you in the movie about you.  Why the heck is that a fit?

Angelina Jolie – the Tomb Raider/Mr. & Mrs. Smith Angelina Jolie. Because my future husband Brad would want it that way. 

8.  List three of your favorite books to pander to the educated segment of our readership…

  • Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets For Networking Your Way To RICH Relationships – I wish I’d written this book myself. Jeffrey "Gits" it!
  • The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly – Encouragement on how to become the best version of yourself, and/or help your employees to do that too.
  • Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell – Any Maxwell book on leadership is a classic.

9.  List three of your favorite movies to connect with the segment of our readership that doesn’t like to read…

  • Jerry Maguire – Show me the money because it’s all about the Kwan…
  • The Princess Bride – All a man needs to say to me is "As you wish".
  • The Lord of the Rings trilogy – Hobbits, horses, wizards, warriors, good triumphs over evil. Enough said.

10.  Let’s reach out to what remains of our readership.  Who’s your favorite Old-School Rapper and why?

MC Hammer. I’m still waiting for those pants to come back. And I can dance just like MC Hammer too. Loud. If you’re in my car. And I don’t know you’re there…

10.5.  My first car was a <blank> and here’s how it defined who I am….

A 1976 silver Honda Civic. My Dad had kept a blue 1972 Plymouth Fury for me to drive, but I felt that was the equivalent of asking me to drive The Queen Mary, so I got a job and saved every dime I made until I could buy something to salvage my reputation. I paid $3,000 for it (used) and then paid another $300 to have a new stereo and speakers installed. (It’s about priorities people.) I drove my little Civic all the way through high school and college. After graduation, when I got my first "real" job and bought a new car, I sold the Civic to my Dad for $1 – and he still drives it today.

That car defined me because I wanted something, worked hard for it and made it happen. And since I drove it during my formative years, it’s covered in bumper stickers, sorority emblems, college logos, etc. that represented who I was during that time in my life.

If you’re in Tennessee and see my 78 year old 6’3" Dad driving his tiny toy down the road representin’ for Chi Omega, be sure to say Hello. And give a shout out to my 73 year old mom driving The Queen Mary too! (Yes they do still have that.)

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See Jennifer’s Rants and Riffs on Fistful of Talent by clicking here…