Human Resources Blog - Spark Hire

4 Ways to Be a Better Recruiter

When it comes to recruiting, half the battle is working with the job candidates. But have you ever considered that you may be the other half?

It’s not easy being a recruiter, but it’s your job to make the entire process seem smooth and seamless. No matter what a candidate or job seeker throws your way, your best weapons are being prepared and honest. With that, ere.net has provided five ways to be a better recruiter.

1. Don’t create a situation of false hope. This can happen in several ways. First, when it comes to salary, ere.net suggests asking job candidates what they make right now; not what they want to make. Leaving the salary up to the candidate creates false hope and limits the realm of negotiation. Once you find their current salary, ere.net suggests to increase it by 15%.

On a similar note, provide transparency about their current job outlook. Don’t get their hopes up on “the perfect position” because chances are good that it could fall through. Instead, be completely honest about their chances, the competition and whether or not it’s even the right fit for them.

2. Don’t just sell candidates; sell jobs too. You’re not just pitching job candidates to companies; you’re also pitching companies to candidates. Develop a sales pitch that will entice hard-working, driven job seekers. Ere.net suggests including benefits and perks they would want, like access to the CEO, work from home days and professional growth opportunities.

3. Take an entrepreneurial approach to resumes. What does that mean exactly? Ere.net urges recruiters to read between the lines of a resume. Don’t just look at what a job seeker has done; think about what they can do with the right position. Being a recruiter these days requires you to be just as innovative as an entrepreneur. You have to have vision when it comes to helping candidates find the right job.

 4. Treat everyone with respect. This may go out with saying, but as it was mentioned before, some job candidates make the process feel like a battle. Regardless of how you’re treated or how much you’re spread thin in finding the right opportunity, stay positive. You’re not just doing your job; you’re representing your company too.

Being a better recruiter creates a better experience for everyone involved, even those candidates who tend to be a little more tricky than others. Plus, innovating and improving on your best practices helps you evolve into a better recruiter. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to better serve and place job seekers who are trusting you with their next big career move.

What are some other encouraging ways to help recruiters become better at what they do? Share now in our comments!

Kathryn Randolph

Kathryn is a freelance writer currently living in Chicago, Illinois. She holds a B.A. in English Writing from DePauw University and has five years experience writing for major job search and higher education websites. When she's not writing for the web, Kathryn is hanging out with her new baby girl, traveling, cooking, reading and running. She believes that the perfect job is out there for everyone and hopes to help Spark Hire job seekers discover their career passion and pursue it.