At some point, most people are going to work with a recruiter to assist them in finding a job, but what really goes into doing this? The realm of the recruiter is high-powered and exciting, but it is also highly stressful and competitive. While the latest platforms and technologies can help to take recruiting to another level, it takes the combination of the right tool but more importantly, the right user to see the greatest advantages. The most successful recruiters possess a very specific set of personality traits and abilities. When putting together your recruiting team, here are some of top qualities and skills to look for.
Fostering relationships – First and foremost, recruiting is about developing and maintaining relationships. Good recruiters take advantage of every opportunity to network, enjoy meeting new people, and know how to establish rapport. By cultivating personal connections, recruiters build trust with their job candidates and clients. When a client trusts a recruiter, they're much more likely to work with them in the future. By the same token, successfully placed jobseekers are much more likely to recommend the recruiter to family and friends.
Salesmanship –The ability to sell is another must have skill. Like in any another sales position, talented recruiters are both confident and persuasive in their communications. They are able to articulate opportunities in a way that captivates jobseekers and can convince their clients that they've found just the right candidate.
Follow-up skills –Effective recruiters know the power and importance of consistent follow-up. Some potential candidates or clients might need to be reached out to more than once. In fact, it has been shown that many sales don't actually take place until the second, third, or even fourth contact. When a recruiter provides regular updates and is responsive to voicemails and emails, it shows they are reliable and therefore trustworthy. It also shows good customer service and can result in more opportunities.
Time management and multitasking-Since recruiters must cater to both the needs of employers and job candidates on a daily basis, time management skills and the ability to multitask are essential. On the multitasking side, that means keeping multiple projects and their details straight. Recruiters must also budget their time between those tasks and be able to reprioritize when something urgent comes up. There is technology out there that can help such as applicant tracking software and similar programs.
Being tech savvy –Recruiters rely on technology in many aspects of their job. Recruiters must be somewhat tech savvy, keeping their ear to the ground for the latest and greatest ways to communicate with clients and recruits. Other technical tools can also help recruiters stay organized, match job seekers to companies, and more. If a recruiter struggles to adapt to changing technology or has difficulty using it in the first place, they aren't going to be as effective as they need to be.
Being a problem solver-Solving problems and troubleshooting are a daily part of the job as a recruiter. Recruiters help companies struggling to find the right hires and they help candidates to seek out suitable work opportunities, but recruiters can also face problems that they've never encountered before. Being able to deal with these issues in a calm and swift manner is what separates an ordinary recruiter from an extraordinary one. If a recruiter possesses a good majority of these skills, there is no doubt that building an effective team will come with ease.
Eric Foutch is a regular contributor at LeraBlog and Recruiterbox and writes about building teams and the impact of different corporate cultures on long term outcomes.
