Recruitment: It’s Not as Easy as It Seems
Professional recruitment Services offer convenience to hiring companies because they take the burden of the extensive process off the shoulders of the company looking to fill positions. But only recruiters worth their salt can offer end-to-end recruitment success. People look at recruiters and think of someone who has the power and influence to transform their lives into something better. Companies turn to recruiters hoping they can do something about their job vacancies. And they do â by coming up with the best possible solution for both parties, matching talents with the companyâs needs.
Many people believe that anybody can be a recruiter and that life without recruiters would be easier for everybody. And yes, anyone can be a recruiter, but not everybody will be a successful recruiter, able to do the job properly. Being a recruiter is not as easy as most people think. It requires skills and patience.
Nowadays, everybody thinks they can recruit, but it isnât as simple as linking a candidate and job in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, the title of ârecruiterâ is most commonly advertised as an easy dream job that promises a well-paying package with little or no skills and experience from the interested participant.
This notion has plagued the recruiting industry from its inception, and there are even people (wannabe recruiters included) that do not think of the job as a professional business. Recruitment done professionally is the biggest, most crucial aspect in building and growing a strong employee base for clients. It is also the key element of building any company brand. On the other hand, if the recruitment is done poorly, it is also one of the main reasons why a company might struggle to attract the right talent.
Why you Think Recruitment Looks Easy
1. You believe every day is an adventure.
I would like to be a recruiter because I love working with people! Does this sentence sound familiar to you? Since there is no generic approach in dealing with your clients and candidates, you are free to explore. Each one is different. Every day will be different. Itâs the thrill and the adventure that excites wannabe recruiters.
2. Itâs as easy as being a matchmaker.
How hard can being a matchmaker be when there are so many talented candidates out there looking for a job, and several companies who need these individuals? Hurray! You have access to both. Itâs both thrilling and exciting to make a difference in the lives of these people. Not only would be making a difference in their lives, but youâd also be giving them a better chance of landing that job opening and searching for the right company.
3. It’s easy access to influential people.
In short, the big bosses. Not everyone gets access to these people, but you do. Even their own staff will find it hard to schedule a meeting but they will make time for you. Thatâs because you have what they needâthe connections, the talent, and that huge database. Youâll be able to establish connections that others are dying to have.
4. The paycheck is huge.
This is obviously a big factor when people choose to become recruiters. Whatâs not to like? With the high demand across all industries, it wonât be long before you earn the big bucks.
5. It will take less time for you to reach the top.
This is the best job, you think. Youâre not part of a structured company with a hierarchy to climb or a corporate ladder. You need not wait several years until your superior vacates his post to get that highly anticipated promotion. You get to have that freedom and control over your entire career. And if you established your company, you are CEO or Principal Recruiter from the beginning.
6. You saw TV show Top Recruiter TV
Yes that show thatâs like a weird version of Keeping up with Kardashian mixed with recruitment. And based on that show, you think that Recruitment is about shiny suits and drinking Moet.
Sounds fun and easy, doesnât it?
Why Recruitment is Not Easy
1. It requires marketing with innovative strategies.
One of the greatest challenges for any recruiter is to make an unattractive position the most coveted in the industry. There are various reasons why a client hires the Services of a recruiter. True, some do it to eliminate the lengthy recruitment processes, but others do it to find the right candidates for a job which wouldnât normally attract the right talent. Itâs the job of the recruiter to help the candidates think itâs a job worth taking. That can only be achieved if you know how to market them and how to market them to different types of people.
2. It requires the development of useful skill sets.
Information is the currency of our trade. You would have to develop interviewing skills, sales skills, and strategic thinking. All will serve you well. As you evolve, youâll save incredible amounts of time by working smarter. Youâll ask fewer questions and get more information. Youâll eliminate unqualified candidates sooner. You wonât accept inadequate search assignments, and youâll avoid unproductive business relationships.
3. The job needs guidance.
Recruiters fails because they lack guidance. Too many intelligent, skilled, able professionals leave the recruiting profession prematurely. They leave before theyâre able to pull together the skills and understanding needed to succeed. Many recruiters in agencies leave because the owners have unreasonable demands and they care about profit and not about their people. Thatâs a shame and a waste of talent.
4. Itâs a game of balance and pace.
Successful recruiters maintain a balance and pace themselves for success. While on the job, mistakes are inevitable, failure is not. Itâs easy to feel overwhelmed as a new recruiter. The trick is to break down the recruiting process into small steps. Follow the blueprint and focus on one small task at a time.
5. Selling yourself and your services.
Being a recruiter doesnât mean you are just hiring a candidate for a position â you are selling that position. And no one would want it if you donât have the complete package. It boils down to trust, confidence, and integrity. From the first impression to the period after you seal the deal, you must ensure you are selling yourself well. As a recruiter, you are constantly working on your personal brand, and if you working as a freelancer you are working twice as hard. Nothing beats a good reputation. And it takes a lot of time and challenges to achieve a good one.
6. Networking and communications.
No matter how good you are in all the other areas, you wonât be successful if you donât have a genuine interest in people. Great social skills are innate and can be acquired if you are bent on doing well. You must know how to treat each client and candidate. And you should be able to maintain your connections long after youâve landed them the job and after youâve filled up their job vacancy. You should be able to treat everyone well, even if they are complete strangers to you. Social skills are the foundations of a great recruiter.
7. The job requires influencing people and creating your mark.
This goes hand in hand with selling. You must know how to persuade them that this is the job that would maximize their potential. You should be able to convince your clients that everyone in the shortlist youâve given them is the one. Your ability to influence people and their decisions will help you land the big deals and shorten your time to create your mark in the industry.
8. Identifying talent and unique skills.
Some candidates are uncertain what theyâre good at. They will submit a resume without any intended direction. It is up to you to determine where they could belong. This requires the unique ability to identify the best and distinguish them from the mediocre.
9. It requires multitasking.
Successful recruiters juggle multiple, simultaneous search assignments. Some make more placements because theyâre organized. A common mistake rookie recruiters make is they only work one search. They obsess about that one search and if something goes wrong, they lose a commission and have to start over.
10. Dealing with runaway candidates.
This is the worst. Most recruiters have had an experience with their candidates not showing up for an interview â or worse, the first day of the job. Although people always say we have the power to dictate which candidate goes to which clients, we donât really have that much power. We give them the candidates to interview and choose but not all candidates are truly committed to work there. With so many recruiters nowadays, thereâs a push and pull. Jobseekers would want to be represented by so many of them, and when the offers come in, they will have the upper hand in choosing which job they prefer.
11. 24/7 Work.
Most people would say they prefer the flexibility our job has to offer. But the truth is, there are times that recruiters work so hard they have no time to rest. This is particularly prevalent when youâre new to the industry. You donât necessarily have a strong database where you can just contact candidates for your job opening. You must establish yourself first and use all your resources to build connections.
12. Unknown job positions from a new client.
If youâre a new recruiter, youâd most probably be too grateful to your first client that you wonât bother asking whether they belong to an industry thatâs alien to you. Youâll be too focused on the fees and the deadlines that youâll immediately accept them and get to work. But you donât understand the job requirements. Not understanding the field can be a disaster. You are reaching people you think are a match, but they are not. You canât sell the opportunity to the right people and the end talent wonât match your clientsâ needs and you, your customer, and candidates will be disappointed.
13. No commission for X months.
The huge pay plays a big factor in the decisions of people to be a recruiter but truth is, the first few months/years are the hardest. Youâll have to endure with no commission for six months or longer. This is the time you spend building your database, establishing your name, and pitching your services to various clients. Even if you have a good name on the market, and enough clients, you will have months without any placements. And that means no paycheck.
14. Rejection
Every recruiter experiences this. Youâll find a company that youâre confident you can help, but they reject you. With so many recruiters out there, you have to persuade them to give you a chance. If not, they will always prefer others over you because of their good reputation and experience. Itâs always landing the first client that is the challenge.
15. You constantly need to learn new things.
Recruitment is constantly evolving and you must learn new methods, new ways to source candidates, new marketing methods, how to approach people, and how to get their attention.
Conclusion
Recruiting looks easy, but itâs not. However, just like any job, anyone can learn the rules to the game. If you want to play the game of recruiting, the rules are easy to learn. Players who want to excel donât go out on the court, shoot one basket, and then leave. They practice different skills. They take shots from different angles and think about the game and their performance. The good recruiters are still evolving and constantly expanding their knowledge in different fields.
Recruitment is not rocket science, but itâs also not the easy job everybody thinks it is. Being successful in recruitment is no accident. It is a combination of hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. The key ingredient here is to have a passion for the craft. If you donât have a passion, you will not excel.
Being a recruiter is incredibly fun and challenging. It takes preparation, skill, and a strategy to win consistently. Donât give up because itâs difficult at first. Get the training you need and practice.
Last Updated on January 16, 2024