- Keep your recruiting process straightforward. Avoid overly complex strategies or tools that may hinder efficiency.
- Placing a candidate is the ultimate goal. Don’t wait for the “perfect” match; a good fit in a role is better than no placement.
- Build strong relationships with both clients and candidates. Your network is your most valuable asset.
- Cultivate connections with hiring managers and decision-makers. It’ll make your job easier in the long run.
- Make your successes visible. Regularly share your wins and metrics with your agency leadership.
- Develop a robust professional network outside your current agency. It’ll be invaluable if you ever need to change jobs.
- Be adaptable. If a client asks you to recruit for a new field or role type, be willing to learn and take on the challenge.
- Prioritize interesting and challenging placements over solely chasing high commission roles.
- Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Cold calling might be uncomfortable, but it’s often necessary for success.
- Understand the different expectations of various industries and company cultures you recruit for.
- Don’t over-engineer your candidate searches. Sometimes, a straightforward approach yields the best results.
- Remember that the candidates you place today will move on to new roles in the future. That’s okay; it’s part of the cycle.
- Focus on building long-term relationships rather than just making quick placements.
- Stay current with industry trends and technologies relevant to your recruiting niches.
- Don’t be invisible to your clients. Regular check-ins and updates can strengthen your relationships.
- Be willing to give advice and help, even when there’s no immediate placement opportunity. RAKs work.
- Understand that different levels of candidates and clients may have different communication preferences. Ask them.
- When you feel you’ve found the perfect candidate, you’ve probably spent too much time searching. Good matches happen faster.
- Build and maintain a strong personal brand as a recruiter.
- Learn to balance the needs of both your clients and candidates.
- Don’t be afraid to specialize in specific industries or roles. Expertise can be a valuable differentiator.
- Always be learning about new recruiting techniques and technologies.
- Understand that the job market evolves. Stay flexible and ready to adapt to new trends.
- Build relationships with other recruiters. Collaboration can sometimes lead to better outcomes for everyone.
- Don’t neglect your own professional development. The skills you need as a recruiter will change over time.
- Be honest with both clients and candidates. Transparency builds trust and long-term relationships.
- Learn to qualify opportunities quickly. Not every open role is worth your time and effort. Be discerning!
- Develop strong time management skills. Balancing multiple clients and candidates is crucial. Prioritization of job openings can massively impact revenue.
- Don’t underestimate the power of a well-written job description or candidate profile. There’s no excuse with AI.
- Learn to read between the lines in both client requirements and candidate resumes.
- Embrace technology, but don’t let it replace the human touch in recruiting.
- Understand that not every placement will work out, and that’s okay. Learn from each experience.
- Cultivate resilience. Recruiting can involve a lot of rejection and setbacks.
- Always be building your talent pipeline, even when you don’t have immediate openings.
- Remember that at its core, recruiting is about helping companies find great talent. Keep this purpose in mind to stay motivated.
Stop working in a silo! Get the support you need from expert coaches and a group of high performing peers. Learn more below.
Tricia Tamkin, headhunter, advisor, coach, and gladiator. Tricia has spoken at over 50 recruiting events, been quoted in multiple national publications, and her name is often dropped in groups as the solution to any recruiters’ challenges. She brings over 30 years of deep recruiting experience and offers counsel in a way which is perspective changing and entertaining.
