Learning the lessons of being a successful recruiter

If I have learnt anything during my 6 years in recruitment, I have learnt one thing – All the training in the world will not cover you for the weird and wonderful scenario’s that seem to appear in
your normal working week. You can plan your day out, you can add reminders to your calendar, you can even write a neat to-do-list, but you cannot prepare for the curveballs recruitment throws at you.

Recruiters are tested constantly, and unless you want to end up with a bad reputation in the industry, you need to be ready to handle each situation carefully and with both the client and candidate’s happiness at the forefront.

With this in mind, here are a few of my lessons learnt since joining the recruitment world;

1. Dealing with the roller-coaster ride of recruitment, it’s a tough ride at times but I’m not ready to get off just yet!
2. Not to take business matters personally, because at the end of the day it’s just that, business.
3. Building good relationships with both candidates and clients is vital for success.
4. “Make time work for you” – Business advice from an unexpected source, my granddad, but I will never forget it in times when I’m a multi-tasking Ninja!
5. Ask enough questions – getting enough information from both a candidate and client is important to relay back to the opposite party – knowledge is power!
6. Don’t rest on your laurels – there is always more business to attract.
7. Know your market – the more you know about the current market and industry, the better you can inform candidates and clients and be able to judge a better fit for roles.
8. Recruitment teaches you a lot about life outside of business – the recruitment business is a people business, so you tend to learn about people’s lives and the tough times they go through. Listen just as much as you talk.
9. As much stick as we recruiter’s get, one of the best feeling’s is hearing the excitement in a candidate’s voice when they’ve been offered their dream job. It’s not just about the commission!
10. To have your own special coffee mug, you’ll be drinking a lot from it!

If you would like to have an informal discussion, please contact Sarah Dovaston here about the roles we are currently working with.