3 Ways to Maximize Your Recruiting Efforts During the Holidays

During the holidays business may seem especially slow and the days can pass by like molasses.  You may be tempted to kick up your feet and take it easy, but why not take advantage of the extra time on your hands by maximizing your recruiting efforts? There are several ways you can make the most of the business holiday drag:

1. Show top talent the attention they deserve

When business is slow, it is important to still keep on recruiting.  Even if there are not immediate job openings, you still want to develop strong relationships with top talent.

Go through your talent lists and get on the phone.  Simply calling a candidate to wish them happy holidays can make the difference in you being “just another recruiter” or being THEIR recruiter.

Top talent typically receives phone calls from many different recruiters, asking them about their availability, interest in a position, etc.  Rarely do they receive a phone call just to say “hello” or wish them happy holidays.  It can be extremely refreshing to a candidate to receive a phone call from a recruiter that doesn’t involve a lot of questions or require effort from the candidate.

If for some reason you are not able to call your list of top talent, at least send them an email or even a handwritten holiday card.  It takes very little time to do either of these things and the thought will go a long way.

The recruiter who builds a strong relationship with candidates is the recruiter those candidates will remember when they are ready to make a career move.

2. Show your existing clients that you appreciate their business

In recruiting it’s not all about the candidates.  Without our clients we do not have jobs to fill.

During this slow quarter, be sure to reach out to your existing clients.  Let them know that you appreciate their business and look forward to working with them again in the New Year.

Even if you call your clients, I still recommend sending a handwritten holiday card as well.  Simple gestures around the holidays will give them warm and fuzzy feelings.  Don’t you want them to feel this way about doing business with you?

The recruiter who has a strong relationship with his existing client base is the recruiter who will continually receive job orders from those clients.

3. Show potential clients that you want their business

Let’s not just stop at making our existing clients feel good, but let’s start in on those potential clients that you have been trying to build relationships with.  Get on the phone and call through your list of potential business.  Instead of trying to find out if these businesses have any job openings, simply wish them happy holidays.

In addition, be sure to mail out handwritten holiday cards to your contacts on your target business list.  Let them know that you hope they enjoy the holidays and that you look forward to speaking with them again in the New Year.

The recruiter who stays ahead of the game, making it known to target customers that their business is desired, is the recruiter who closes new deals in the New Year.

What are some things you do during the holidays in order to maximize your recruiting efforts? 

Image: Imagesbavaria/BigStock.com