Time Management BKM’s of an Experienced Recruiter

Most recruiting positions can be stressful and demanding.  We are inundated with applications, phone calls, emails, and multiple job openings.  Trying to stay on top of everything can become quite the juggling act for many.  However, by developing and sticking to a time management system, success is possible!  Some of the Best Known Methods (BKM’s) that I practice are the M.S.C. list, blocking of time, and asking “what’s closest to the dollar?”

M.S.C. (Must Should Could) List

At the end of each day, I complete a M.S.C. List for the following day.  I start by dividing a document into three sections and labeling each section Must, Should, Could.  I review the status of my outstanding items and decide which item should go in which section.

All urgent tasks that must be completed the next day fall under the Must section while items that are important but not urgent fall under the Should section.  Tasks that can take a backseat and are not of immediate importance fall under the Could section.

Blocking of Time

I first learned about blocking of time in one of Mike Gionta’s Recruiting Summit calls.  One of the discussions surrounded how beneficial this practice was for many recruiting teams, allowing them to be more productive.  I was managing a team of recruiters myself at the time and decided to implement this strategy within our team.  The strategy worked for several of us and I still use it today.

After creating my M.S.C. List I divide the following day into blocks or sections in my outlook calendar, blocking out hours for sourcing, calls, follow ups, etc. During the day, while working through each block, I focus only on the task at hand.  Once my calendar reminder notifies me I have 15 minutes before my next scheduled task, I quickly begin wrapping up the current task.  This helps me to stay on track and ensure that I cover everything that I MUST complete for the day.

“What’s Closest to the Dollar?”

In the beginning of my recruiting career, a mentor guided me in setting priorities by asking me a simple question.  “What’s closest to the dollar?”

He was referring to a variety of things such as positions that I knew I could quickly identify candidates and fill versus positions that were long shots or we were waiting on client feedback.

Each day, as I am creating my M.S.C. List, I determine what goes under the Must section by asking myself this simple question.

Of course, I want to fill every position successfully. The better I prioritize, the closer I am to achieving success.  As recruiters, we have to determine what is highest priority, or what is closest to the dollar, in order to spend our time wisely and be successful.

What are some ways you prioritize your day as a recruiter?  Please post your tips and comments below!