Comments on: Are You A Natural Born Recruiter?

By: Rajan Chandi

Rajan Chandi — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:36:20 +0000

Agree with Malcolm.

A recruiter by definition needs to work with a bit of instinct and putting herself in other guys shoes to understand the upcoming job and matching if someone else can actually do what’s needed.

A bit of extra and impressive capabilities in closely related field works!

Cheers
Rajan
HirePlug.com (Social Hiring(TM))

By: Malcolm Campbell

Malcolm Campbell — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:35:30 +0000

Recruiting is sales, but in this case you have two customers, and if you’re working with the best, two very discriminating customers. In sales, lack of product knowledge can kill any deal before it starts. Recruiters credibility with clients and candidates alike starts by knowing the real job, not the qualifications required to get it. Then, once you know the real job, you’ll discover that the hiring manager will focus more on the candidate’s ability to achieve comparable results rather than having comparable skills. Getting managers to make this shift is a core skill of top recruiters, and it’s how you make more placements.

By: Navid Sabetian

Navid Sabetian — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:26:29 +0000

I think recruiters can be either born or made. It really depends on how they look at recruitment.

Some look at recruitment as a means to an end which is for instance to make some money while backpacking.

The great recruiters look at their job as a career and do what they can to become better at it every day. They look at recruitment as an end in itself and I believe they are the ones that will be successful.

By: Kim Kilgoar

Kim Kilgoar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:30:32 +0000

All great points. Recruiting is one of the most basic trades of all time, but few do it well. I believe a recruiter has truly become a great recruiter when they no longer look at a candidate as just a dollar sign, but as a human being and treat them accordingly. Clients become an opportunity to improve an organization by adding top talent, no longer just your gross margin. Too many people in this industry or that partner with our industry try to complicate good fundamental recruiting. Sorry, felt like climbing on a soapbox!

Especially appreciate #7! Great job, keep writing!!

By: Eric Buchanan

Eric Buchanan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:48:27 +0000

Great article Lisa! I am an in-house Recruiter for an ad agency but have also been on the recruiting agency side as well. I think us great Recruiters are born with a natural propensity for it but then also need to acquire and hone some of our skills along the way that make us very successful.

By: Lisa Kaye

Lisa Kaye — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:18:35 +0000

Thanks for the comments. Referring to “stealth”, intention is to fly under the radar and be ahead of the game to find your candidates even if you don’t have the job order in front of you. Being proactive and knowing your clients needs, business trends and being a few steps ahead of the next guy …

By: Ambrish Kochikar

Ambrish Kochikar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:17:31 +0000

nice post! i don’t think i quite read stealth ability to mean what i think it’s being made out to mean, but i could be wrong

By: Hassan Rizwan

Hassan Rizwan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:22 +0000

Exactly Charles, even my eyes got stuck on that point. It carries a complete thought in itself. Well stealth ability is something, which if i were not into recruitment could not understand myself. But yes, it has certainly become an ability to reach out to maximum candidates and STEALING the one that suits the most.

By: Charles Van Heerden

Charles Van Heerden — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:32:55 +0000

Hi Lisa, excellent points and I particularly like #3. Hiring managers cannot and should not expect the perfect candidate, or to have a long shortlist. Too much choice is also confusing and as recruiters it should be our role to “educate” them.

A great recruiter is someone that can find talent before you need them, without spoiling the hiring manager expecting the next vacancy to be filled in a flash – no mean feat!