Sidney joined the London team in 2021 as part of our Summer Graduate Scheme. Sitting in our Data team, she specialises in Data Engineering and has helped many candidates along their career journey in some of the best data-driven businesses in the country. After 8 months in the industry, she shares 5 tips she's learnt along the way.
Personalisation 🔎
An extremely underrated tool that every recruiter has in their arsenal is personalisation. When you start recruiting, you might be overwhelmed by the various ways you can approach candidates. However, one thing that won’t fail you is tailoring your approach to the individual you’re targeting.
Good candidates are getting bombarded with messages from recruiters daily… so you need to stand out.
You need to show them that what you are offering is not only better than anything else on the market, but that you are different to every other recruiter out there - you care. Take 10 minutes to run through their LinkedIn page, CV, websites and get to know who they are, what they are passionate about and what they are interested in. Not only will this show that you are willing to invest time into them, but it also allows you to build a personal rapport that will stand the test of time. Is their dog cute? Talk about it. Did you attend the same university? Bring it up. You’ll thank yourself for it when they come back to you over someone who simply sent them a job spec and a list of bullet points. The more creative, the better!
Expect the unexpected 🚩
It’s no secret that recruitment is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and sometimes a rejection can be unexpected. But, don’t be afraid of rejection. It will happen, a lot. And that is okay! It’s all in the long game. Over time, you begin to expect hiccups and you will learn to see the signs before they become a rejection…
The best way to expect the unexpected is to cover all bases - make sure you know everything there is to know about your candidate and their professional situation. If you think you can spot a red flag, don’t ignore it, ask questions. If you understand, you are more likely to be able to control your candidates and offer consultative advice. And don’t take it personally if you do get a rejection, they are human too!
Research 🧐
Whatever industry you are recruiting for, it is essential that you research the market. Understand your client’s requirements and how they navigate within the market. Who are their competitors? Has there been any social, political or economic changes that could impact the industry? Read articles and press releases; in this game knowledge is power.
You can also use the information that you have collected in your pitches or when approaching candidates. For example, if a company is restructuring, you can map out their workforce and target people that may be looking for a change or who might be unhappy with the instability. In contrast, if a company has received lots of funding recently and are growing rapidly within the market- speak to candidates, even if the candidates aren’t looking to move yet it could help you spark up a conversation that could be fruitful in the future (or lead to a recommendation).
Be Confident 👍
One thing to remember is that nobody can tell whether you are faking your confidence apart from you. If you put on a confident and personable exterior, people will gravitate towards you and be naturally bought in to you, no matter what you are selling. Engaging with candidates is one of the biggest hurdles that recruiters face. Therefore, coming across as though you not only know what you are doing, but are also assertive, friendly and prepared- means that candidates will be more likely to invest their time into what you have to say. So as the saying goes… fake it 'til you make it.
Ask questions 🙋♂️
There is no such thing as too many questions – that’s what I was always told when I started in recruitment and it’s true. Listening, observing and being curious is the ticket to a successful career in recruitment. Make sure that you absorb as much information as you can from senior colleagues, don’t be afraid to share ideas, have pitching seminars, and embrace the overload of information (don’t fear it).
By asking lots of questions and requesting help early on, you can iron out any creases and ensure you don’t get into any stagnant habits. It's also a great way of connecting with your colleagues!
