International Cat Day

International Cat Day: Whiskers at Work

International Cat Day

I previously recognized International Cat Day (August 8th) by comparing cat behavior with Recruitment Marketing. You can revisit that Blog Post  here, where I shared my journey to Crazy Cat Lady and introduced my feline family members. Everyone is doing well, and we have had a lot of interest from candidates wanting to join the team. Apparently, they’ve heard good things and new applicants appear on the back patio from time to time.

Cats work hard in our world. Here are just a few of the jobs they dutifully perform:

Emotional Support/Therapy Animal: Whether serving as an emotional support animal for an individual or part of a care team within a hospital or nursing home, these specially trained professionals play an important role in providing comfort and support.

Speaking of roles, how about the cat ACTORS, who entertain us in a variety of TV, movie and stage productions.

On the smaller screen, Cats are a huge part of the Influencer world. TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are full of popular cat influencers. Just a couple of these stars include @CatManJohn for Russell the cat who uses buttons to communicate or Lady the cat @thetruckeduplife.

Space: In 1963, Felicette, also known as “Astrocat”, became the first and only cat to go to space.

Pest Control: In Lighthouses, cats served to keep pests away and served as companions to the Lighthouse Keeper and their family. Cats serve a similar purpose in barns and on ships.

Ancient Egyptians used the felines to hunt birds on riverbanks.

Mayor: Talkeetna, AK, had a feline mayor for 20 years. Stubbs the cat was named after his stubby tail and served in office from July 18, 1997, up until his death on July 21, 2017. During his time as mayor, he survived an attack from a dog, being shot at by teenagers with BB guns and falling into a (cooled off) deep fryer. Talk about having nine lives!

Of course, now they are part of our political discourse.

Whether they are employed and earning a paycheck or working for cuddles and kibble, I’m sure you will agree that the payment is well earned.

As part of our SCG brand toolkit, we have a variety of #merch. Our latest addition is a TOP TAIL CAN COVER. Comment or touch base with me or an SCG team member to get one for yourself. Made in the USA, the can cover is 3.5.”

recruitment marketing and cats

Recruitment Marketing and Cats

recruitment marketing and cats

Monday, August 8th is International Cat Day!

I was never a cat person. We always had dogs. Then a mama cat gifted me with kittens, twice, and my journey to crazy cat lady began. Don’t worry. We found homes for many and with the support of my favorite vets, we got everyone checked out, vaccinated, and made sure there wouldn’t be more kittens.  Cat behavior is interesting and got me thinking about how it correlates to my recruitment marketing business at SCG.

#1 – Cats are like passive candidates. You can’t force your intentions on them. They have to come to you. If you dangle the right toy/treat/message and wait patiently, they will eventually acknowledge and respond.

#2 – Looks can be deceiving. Our cats are adorable but have a killer instinct, keeping birds, chipmunks, mice, etc. on notice. In recruitment marketing, you need to review resumes carefully and don’t judge too quickly. You also shouldn’t judge on appearance. Some very talented employees may come with tattoos, piercings, or non-traditional hair choices.

#3 – I often find “gifts” from the cats that aren’t necessarily on my wish list. Sometimes it’s about aligning background and experience with the appropriate open requisition and not just judging against the job applied for.

#4 – I’m a morning person. Many of the cats are night prowlers. I try to understand their behavior and adapt accordingly. When hiring for different shifts, think like your candidate. Put your message out on late night radio or tv. It’s usually less expensive than those coveted drive time radio slots or prime time tv. Host a virtual hiring event or just have a chat bot available for questions overnight.

#5 – Like people, cats need to feel welcomed as part of the team. We recently took in a new cat that needed to be rehomed. He hid under the bed for days. Super timid. Then we put a collar on him and his personality dramatically shifted. Suddenly, he engaged with humans and cats alike. It seemed he needed to feel secure in his new home. In recruitment marketing, whether it’s a branded polo shirt, computer bag, coffee mug or something else, welcome new hires with something that says they are part of the team. For those working onsite, also consider a special badge or pin that identifies new hires so that coworkers can spot them and help when they seem lost or might need assistance.

#6 – Every cat has their own language. Who knew…purring is not the official cat language. Some cats vocalize with sounds that are almost words. Our Amelia has a high-pitched trilling meow. Others are almost silent unless they feel threatened and may hiss or growl. Candidates also have different communication styles. In this market, be open to communicating via phone call, email, text…at least in the beginning. Unless it’s critical to the job function, listen to words as much as communication style. Interviewing can be a stressful situation and well qualified candidates may not perform well. When looking for bilingual candidates use bilingual messaging in ethnic media and be mindful of cultural differences/sensitivities.

Catalina is the cat who started it all and is now Queen of the clowder. From a homeless girl in trouble to a beloved family pet who never strays, she’s found her place. May your recruiting journeys be equally rewarding.

Tina Davis

Tina Davis
VP, Account Services
SCG Advertising & PR