Recruitment can be an exciting and rewarding industry to work in, but it’s also competitive at every level. In this article we’ll look at some key skills recruiters need to cultivate if they’re going to succeed.
Communication
Recruitment is a “people led” industry, in that it runs on and through relationships. You’ll need to cultivate lasting, trusting relationships with your clients and candidates and being a good communicator is central to this. Over the phone, via email, in person or on social media, it’s important that you can communicate clearly while building positive working relationships.
Active listening
There are loads of recruiters who can talk the talk, but to be a great recruiter you need to listen as well. Active listening involves asking the right questions, and paying attention to the response to find out what your clients and candidates are actually looking for. It sounds very simple, but it’s a more unusual skill than you might think.
Organisation
If your work in recruitment is going well, it can come at you very fast. There are candidates, clients, meeting, interviews and calls to keep track of and it can become impossible if you’re not efficiently organised. How you achieve this is up to you, and it’s important to find a method that suits how you think and how you work. It could be a to-do list app, a paper diary, your outlook calendar or an online productivity tool, but you’re going to need some way to organise your busy work day.
Perseverance
However good you are, you won’t be successful every time. Your success often relies on other people’s decisions and while you can exert some influence, you’ll never have control. Sometimes things just don’t line up, and sometimes people change their minds. Rejection and disappointment are part of the job, and you must be able to pick yourself up and keep going. Keep yourself motivated and your goals in mind, and persevere through any setbacks you may encounter.
Attention to detail
A recruitment consultant handles a large volume of information on a daily basis; job descriptions, salary offers, candidate qualifications and CVs to name just a few. You’re asking people to make important decisions based on your recommendations, and so it’s important that the details you’re basing them on are correct, and that you’ve considered them properly.
Marketing
Whether you’re promoting a specific role on a job board, expanding your network on social media or looking for new potential clients, marketing is a big part of a recruiter’s life. How do you construct the perfect job advert? How often should you post on social media? What key words are your future clients searching for online? Strong marketing skills will support almost everything else you do as a recruiter.
If you have questions or if we can help in any way, please call our expert team on 01296 468483 or email info@orangegenie.com.