An Interview With Bill Boorman, a True Global Tour de Force in the World of Recruiting
By Nick Price April 27, 2018 April 25, 2018
With a career spanning over three decades in recruiting, Bill Boorman has led the way in connecting people within the recruiting industry from around the globe.
After a corporate life that led to a change in lifestyle — in Bill's words, "he didn't like the person he'd become," he set up his own successful business only to experience bankruptcy, which had a huge impact on both his professional and personal life. He had to adapt again. Twitter revolutionised Bill's world, enabling him to create a global network of recruiting folk that led to the creation of the Tru Unconference events.
Bill now spends his time continuing to innovate events and networks, while working in a consultancy role with large corporates. He is also very active within the HR Tech startup community, working with companies such as Clinch and RolePoint.
From dealing with the consequences of the financial meltdown that affected his own business, the impact on his home and family life, to the reinvention that has led to the global success of the Tru Unconference events, Bill talks openly about his life and career while sharing very personal insights and experiences.
Work doesn't happen in isolation, and we often forget the backdrop of everyday life that people are also dealing with.
A truly inspirational and engaging interview is below. It's all part of a series about the lives of people in the talent field. See previous interviews with Johnny Campbell, with Gerry Crispin, Matt Alder, and with a Stryker talent VP.
Nick Price
Nick Price has spent his career asking people questions about what they do and why they do it. Twenty years ago, he began working in the research team with TMP Worldwide, before going on to become head of research for the recruitment communications agency, ThirtyThree. With an impressive array of blue chip, government, and public-sector clients, he led a team developing pan-European branding programmes in Eastern Europe and Russia, and also worked with the higher education sector in Delhi to implement a graduate program for a major NGO.
His experience has subsequently led him to work across several fields including strategy, analytics, branding and communications. He's worked in startups and with startups and with his own company won the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit - HR Technology start-up award for innovation in Silicon Valley, California, with a pioneering candidate feedback tool - Mystery Applicant in 2012.
Having used film extensively for employer branding and communications projects and having had a lifelong interest in filming and stories, he recognized an opportunity to integrate film and video that delivered bespoke content with a well-researched and natural approach to interviewing and strong creative execution. His company Working Films has given him the opportunity to use his extensive experience to create a film production company that showcases real stories about people and their work, through natural and engaging story telling. His talent as a producer lies in having a natural curiosity and interest in people stories and to share these through film in a way that connects and engages with audiences on an emotional level.