Stress is caused by factors like candidates not showing up for interviews or not meeting targets. The presenter discusses how framing stress as a challenge rather than a threat can promote resilience. Cultivating a growth mindset and constructive team interactions also builds resilience. Changing negative thoughts in response to stressors can alter emotions and behaviors for better outcomes. Most resilience programs do not work well because they lack scientific foundations, scalability, engagement, or tailoring to work needs. The neuroscience of play suggests it can be a powerful way to practice handling unexpected situations and build resilience.

2. My phone is heavy

3. I feel pretty relaxed right now

4. I am over 35

5. I came here by airplane

6. This is my first time at Engage

7. If I could, I would eliminate stress
from my life

8. My phone is getting heavier

10. The Science of Stress:
Cultivating Recruiter Resilience
Dr. Marcia Goddard
marcia@ranj.com
@MarciaGoddard
Neuroscientist @ &Ranj

11. What is stress?

12. Stress in your brain

13. HPA-axis

15. Causes of stress in recruitment

16. Causes of stress in recruitment
Candidates not showing up for work
Not filling vacancies/not finding (good) candidates
(Unrealistic) targets
Robots taking our jobs
FOMO

17. PERCEIVED LACK OF CONTROL
Stress
FramingThreat Challenge
Bad stress Good stress

18. Recruiter resilience

19. Mindset
Fixed Growth
Being good Getting better
Proving yourself Improving yourself
Demonstrating skills Developing skills
External competition Internal competition

20. Team resilience
Constructive feedback is given often, and perceived as helpful
People listen to understand, they don’t listen to speak
Interactions are non-judgemental (e.g. open-ended questions)
Vulnerability is a quality, not a pitfall
High levels of agility

21. STRESSOR
(e.g. candidate not
showing up)
Thoughts
(what we think affects
what we feel and do)
Emotions
(what we feel affects
what we think and do)
Behaviour
(what we do affects
what we think and feel)
I am stressed.
I can’t do this.
I didn’t perform
as I should
have. See?
I can’t do this.
I feel insecure,
scared,
inadequate.
I’m reluctant to
get to work,
afraid to ask for
help.

22. STRESSOR
(e.g. candidate not
showing up)
Thoughts
(what we think affects
what we feel and do)
Emotions
(what we feel affects
what we think and do)
Behaviour
(what we do affects
what we think and feel)
I am stressed.
I have to do
something now.
I feel pumped up,
a bit tense, but
ready to get to it.
I get to work,
I’m proactive,
and ask for help
if necessary.

25. Why do most resilience programs not work?
● McMindfulness
● No scientific foundation
● Not scalable
● Not tailored to workfloor needs
(e.g. bite-sized and easy to incorporate into daily routine)
● Not engaging

26. The power of play

28. The power of play

29. The neuroscience of play

30. 2.9 billion people play games
every single day

31. Play is practice for the unexpected

32. Play is fun, not because it is easy,
but because it is difficult

33. Play is fun, not because it is easy,
but because it is difficult

34. Play is fun, not because it is easy,
but because it is difficult

35. That’s all, folks!
Dr. Marcia Goddard
@MarciaGoddard
Neuroscientist @ &Ranj
marcia@ranj.com