Back to the basics

Just as professional baseball players do every spring, it is time to look at the year ahead and tune up our recruiting skills.  This simple tune up is relevant to every recruiter including the most seasoned.  As most recruiters know, the life of a recruiter is up and down throughout the year.  The highs are HIGH and the lows are LOW.  The best recruiters in the industry consistently examine their processes throughout the year and when they find themselves off track, will revert back to the basics.    

As a pilot uses a checklist to take off and fly his aircraft; a recruiter needs to operate with the same basic process.  Establish a checklist, make sure everything is accomplished correctly in order, ensure no stone is left unturned and that all needed and relevant information from the candidate and the client are in your hands.

Here are a few important basics to review:

1.      Plan – ensure you have a detailed daily plan of who you will market to and who you will recruit. This will save time while maximizing productivity.

2.      Treat everyone with dignity and respect – I have worked alongside “candidate recruiters” and also “client recruiters”.  Treat everyone with respect and provide them some direct or indirect value as this will be sure to set you apart in your local recruiting world.

3.      Write a thorough and detailed job order – take your time, ask the right questions.  Don’t try and recruit off a job description.  If you are not using some type of job order form – time to build one.  

4.      Don’t be a “yes” man or woman – provide your clients value.  Don’t be an order taker - rather a trusted advisor and advise your clients on the individuals they should hire and those to pass on.

5.      Document – it is crucial that you document conversation, notes, emails, phone calls, etc.  In a game of he said/she said; you want to make sure you have what was said.

6.      Follow up – it is of utmost importance that you have a follow up plan for each and every prospect.  This will help bridge the communication process and develop your prospects into long term clients.

7.      Marketing – this is the lifeblood of a recruiter.  Planned, consistent and targeted marketing activities will ensure consistent communication and the more dials one makes; will hopefully result in more quality job orders to work.

8.      Interviewing – leverage a continuous flow of candidates to interview, regardless of passive or active status, to assist you in building a pipeline of leads, referrals and candidates.  In the interview, be sure to find out where each has applied or been presented, ensure you have discussed counteroffers and close the interview by asking for referrals.

9.      White boards – keep yourself organized, categorize your job orders into classes (A, B, C) with notes, brag a little and document your placement fees and manage your send outs.  Hang the board where it’s visible to your desk for quick reference.  

10.  Candidate prep – ensure you are prepping each and every send out thoroughly regardless of experience and level.  A better prepared candidate will have a leg up on the competition and will ensure that you stand out to your client. 

11.  Attitude – last but not least – smile, have fun, and be positive!