Embarking on a career in recruitment? Here is some advice for those of you budding recruiters based on my first two months experience working for an IT recruitment company.
1) Organisation
I have quickly learnt how important it is to be organised when working in recruitment. You need to be able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously to stay on top of everything. I now understand why half of my office has OCD to a certain degree!
- Be an avid list-maker!
Whether you write it all down in a notebook or keep a note of things electronically, it is so important to keep track of your priorities. Make a list at the end of the working day so you are prepared for the following morning. Writing a list on a Friday afternoon for the following week is invaluable; when it gets to Monday morning you have a clear outline of goals for the coming week. - Email inbox– keep on top of it!
It might sound silly but keeping on top of your emails is extremely sensible. Try to organise your inbox by putting emails into clearly labelled folders – for clients, roles, candidates. It makes your life a lot easier if you are able to quickly retrieve an email from your inbox for reference. Be sure to also delete any irrelevant emails so your inbox doesn’t become overloaded. - Tidy desk = tidy mind!
Keep your desk in tip-top shape. Try not to let it get cluttered. It not only looks unprofessional but it will make you feel more stressed. - I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date!
Don’t be late for work. In fact show keenness by turning up early and going that extra mile. If you have a call scheduled, make it on time. You wouldn’t expect a candidate to show up late to an interview, so apply that in everything that you do. Give yourself targets so that you can achieve everything you possibly can to the best of your ability within the working day. Time is money.
2) Confidence
To survive in the world of recruitment you need to ooze confidence. It is the key to success in business.
- Clients:
Clients need to have complete trust in you. Be confident in your knowledge of the recruitment process, of your specific industry and in your ability to deliver. If you have confidence in yourself, the client is more likely to be confident in your partnership. - Candidates:
Candidates need to trust your knowledge and ability. Their future career is in your hands. You need to deliver a personal and professional service to prove you are different from other recruiters. You have to appear confident that you know what you’re talking about. - Self-confidence:
Have belief in yourself. Do not be afraid of picking up the phone and speaking to people.
3) Work ethic
Work hard, play hard.
- Knuckle down:
Have the motivation to work hard and be successful. Be prepared to spend time doing a lot of groundwork before seeing results. - Motivation:
Be driven to succeed. Be prepared to take knock-backs and pick yourself back up. Strive to be the best you can be. - Stay true to your morals:
Take pride in providing the best possible service to clients and candidates alike. You are an ambassador of your company – its reputation is at stake. Always remember that you are changing someone’s life by finding them a new job. - Be honest:
to your clients, your candidates and with yourself. Be realistic about expectations.
4) Knowledge
- Be a sponge!
Be prepared to take in a lot of information. Soak up as much as you can. - Research:
Take the initiative to do research in your own time. Learn as much as you can about your industry. Take an online course for example. You will look stupid when speaking to candidates if you don’t sound like you know what you’re talking about. - Ask questions:
Speak to your colleagues and don’t be afraid to ask questions. People are more than happy to help and you can learn a lot. Equally speak to candidates and learn from them. Techies are so passionate about what they do and are usually enthused at the thought of discussing it in depth with someone who is not necessarily familiar with their specialism. - Current affairs:
Keep up to date with current technology trends and what’s going on in the news. Read relevant articles and get involved in online communities to help broaden your knowledge
5) CVs
- Light reading:
Prepare yourself to read through a LOT of CVs on a daily basis. You will soon become an expert in spotting a good CV from a great one to an ugly. - Be picky:
Don’t settle for second best. Find that star candidate if it’s the last thing you do. Don’t compromise on skills and qualities. Great candidates are out there, you just have to persevere.
6) NetworkNetworking is the key to being successful in recruitment.
- Get involved:
Immerse yourself in your specialist field. Get inside the community and speak to people. Go to events, join online groups. Meet people. - Social media:
Social media is becoming a useful tool in recruitment. Take advantage of this.
7) LinkedIn
LinkedIn will become your best friend. Love it or hate it, it is the mother of all networking in the business world. LinkedIn recruiter has revolutionised headhunting.
- Learn how to search:
Search effectively and efficiently in order to find exactly the candidates you are looking for. - InMails:
Learn the art of successful InMails. Craft your messages carefully and make it personal. Don’t make it sound like a template. Capture people’s attention. Keep it short, snappy, informative and tailor it to the individual. - Your profile:
needs to look professional and represent you and your company in the best possible light. - Keep it interesting: Share interesting technology or recruitment related articles. Get involved and network with people.
Finally, remember to be professional, passionate, driven and most importantly have personality!
Written by Milly Allen
You might also like
People, Passion and Positivity - The Life Of a Recruiter
Why Recruitment Could Be The Best First Job
Five Must Have Qualities Of A Recruiter
