“Recruitment can be a very exciting and rewarding industryto work for, but like any other business environment, it requires a lot offocus, determination and commitment from the consultants,” explains Jane Norton, Director of Talent Acquisition at Michael Page.
First, you need to research the industry as well as thespecific requirements of the role you are applying for. Here are some tips to help you make themost of your career in recruitement.
1. Build long-term partnerships
Building and maintaining long-term relationships is a hugepart of the day-to-day role of an HR specialist.
“Understanding your client’s (company’s) needs for selectingand understanding what drives people at work will allow you to successfullymatch the right candidates to the right jobs,” says Jane.
It’s not just about external customer relations, but alsoabout collaborationwith your colleagues. Yourcommunication skills and ability to be a team player will help you managerelationships based on mutual trust and respect, as well as help you build asuccessful career inrecruitment.
“One of the most important things to remember when buildingstrong relationships is that people are uncontrollable and they don’t hurry tomake decisions, which can sometimes be one of the biggest one in their lives;always be patient and don’t push people to make decisions, “Jane explains.
Compassionand empathy willdemonstrate that you truly haveyour company’s and the candidate’s best interest at heart,which will help you earn their trust.
2. Embrace technology
In the last ten years, technology has changed the way mostindustries operate, includingHR.
“The way we work with candidates is much more active andless dependent on candidates who respond to ads. Now we are looking for talenton a daily basis,” saysPhil Cookson, director of creative recruiting agency.
As technologyis on the rise, companies such as Creative Resource are usingapplications to chat with candidates.In addition, you need a good understanding of all the major social mediachannels. Recruitment staff uses all these platforms to collect and analyze data.
The digitalenvironment is also changing the way small and medium-sized enterprises (SME),such as Creative Resource, manage their internal processes. Phil finds that itallows a higher level of efficiency and ability for staff to do their jobs fromanywhere.
3. Have self-confidence
It is important for your success as a recruitment consultantthat you demonstrate the right level of self-confidence. This will positively affect the wayyour colleagues look at you and your ideas are more likely to be taken underconsideration.
“Being able to be confident, charming and persuasive whileworking as part of a team, will help you achieve your goals and achieve thebest results,” says Jane.
4. Think about your career development
In order to succeed in recruitment, you need to know whereyour career is going and how you can move forward.
Phil is sure that a career in recruitment has a greatpotential, regardless of its route. You could work for a small niche companylike Phil or a large global company with offices worldwide.
Another option is to do it yourself, as Phil points out:“Many people choose to start their own businesses, so if you have entrepreneurialskills, this is a great industry to work in.”
Phil also recommends to all graduates “to consider whichsectors may be of interest to them or are related to their studies.” Choosingto work in an industry that you have knowledge of can make it easier to understand thecustomers’ requirements and the challenges they face.
5. Neverstop learning
As you progress in your career, you may want to look foradditional qualifications. Make sure to check out other HR courses and industry specific trainings, and to continuously growyour professional network in order to connect, share and learn from your peers.
Best ofluck!
