Helpful Tips for New Recruiters

Working as a recruiter is a rewarding way to connect with others, helping them to find passion and success in a new career path. However, for a rookie recruiter, the field may feel overwhelming. If you’re new to recruiting and are looking to make your mark, keep these tips in mind:

• Work on building your network: Success in business ultimately comes down to networking, but this is especially true for those working in recruiting. If you want to do well as a recruiter, be proactive about building your network. Make it a point to attend events in your community, rekindle relationships with old connections, and focus on maintaining your dialogue with current contacts.
• Seek out a mentor: There’s a lot to learn when it comes to recruiting, so don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who’s more experienced in the field. Find someone in your firm who seems willing to share their knowledge, and start to observe how they operate. You may even want to take them to coffee and ask them some questions about their thought process pertaining to the field.
• Don’t rely too heavily on e-mail: For a new recruiter, it can be easy to fall into the trap of relying too heavily on e-mail. Recruiters should, instead, try to make personal connections with candidates over the phone or via video interviews. When trying to communicate with candidates by emailing, recruiters run the risk of slipping into someone’s spam folder. However, speaking with a candidate on the phone or through video interview will enable them to a put a face (or voice) to a name and increases the chance of piquing their interest.
• Don’t skip out on the follow-up: Many new recruiters make the mistake of finding a great candidate, contacting them about a position, telling them they’ll submit their materials, then forgetting to keep them in the loop. You’ll have a lot to balance, but don’t let your follow-up suffer. Some recruiters find that keeping a spreadsheet of candidates is helpful for reminding them who they must update and when this must happen. Find a system that works for you and stick to it so that you’re not leaving your candidates in the dark.
• Use technology to your advantage: Recruiting is changing as people become more dependent on social media and their smartphones. It’s now easier than ever to reach people all over the country at virtually any time of day. You want to be where your potential candidates are, so make sure that your social media knowledge is up-to-date. Have a strong presence on LinkedIn, and monitor these channels regularly so you’re aware of what’s going on.

Finally, though it’s difficult, don’t take anything personally when you work as a recruiter. It’s a very fluid field, which means that there will be terrific weeks and stressful weeks. Don’t let the less-than-perfect weeks make you feel overwhelmed; don’t let the terrific weeks make you overconfident. Maintain a strong work ethic and you’ll enjoy success.

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