How To Work As A Recruiter

How To Work As A Recruiter

There are some people who believe that professional recruiters have the easiest job in the world.  These "Headhunters" just make a few telephone calls and then sit back and watch the money pour in.

 Well, take it from me, nothing could be farther from the truth!  The following is a typical day in the life of a recruiter.

 We rise at 6:00 AM, not because we want to but because we haven't slept all night, worrying about whether "John" received the email or "Mary" is still interested in the opportunity you presented to her.

 We immediately check our email because there may be someone who stayed up later than you or got up earlier.  Who knows!  There could be a client who received your email from yesterday about a wonderful candidate that wants to work only for them.  It's the prospect of a new day.

 Strong coffee is poured down your gullet as you scan for something good.  You discover that if you wanted to cure a sexual dysfunction or make money on EBay, you'd be in business.  But after numerous deletions, you find that once again, you'll have to work for your results.

 OK!  Life is still good!  You're awake and alive, you're phone is working (this you know because you checked for a dial tone) and you're ready once again to set the world on fire.

 8:00 AM rolls around and you're ready to make some calls.  Let's try "Kathy" who you thought may have been avoiding you yesterday but today is a clean slate.  "Kathy's" voicemail says the same thing as yesterday.  "Hi, this is Kathy.  Today is Wednesday, April 14th and I am in the office today BUT currently away from my desk or on another line.  Please leave a detailed message and I WILL BE SURE TO RETURN YOUR CALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE".  "As soon as possible?"  You have renewed hope.

 After your twentieth call, and your twentieth renewed hope, you're ready for a touch more coffee.  By this time, you're eating it with a spoon because that 6:00 AM pot has been smoldering on the warmer for about four hours by now.

 OK!  It's time to shoot out a little email campaign.  The one that tells your clients how for the next thirty days, you will be dropping your fees to the bare minimum so they will trust you with some orders.  After you reconcile all the "Undeliverable" messages, you come to the realization that none of your contacts are staying in the same place for longer than six months.  So, you get on the phone and call their former companies to see if you can find out where in the heck they went!

 It's noon by now and you're still in "good shape".  You still have a half-day to make something happen.  An email arrives letting you know that the terrific candidate you had lined up for a full-time position interview has taken a temporary position and will be unable to make your previously scheduled meeting.

 And what went into scheduling this meeting in the first place?  I'm glad you asked.  You received the initial request from the client.  You begged them for some of the particulars of the position.  You scoured your database for appropriate candidates.  You made the introductory calls.  You found someone who is qualified AND interested. 

 You asked for permission to submit their resume.  You edited their resume because it was virtually written in crayon.  You compiled a brief bio to submit to your client along with the resume.  You convinced your client that this person was the second coming.  They gave you some dates and times for an initial meeting.  You run the dates by your candidate but it turns out that they're dog has worms and they have to take them to the vet on those days.

 You call back the client to ask for additional days and times.  Finally, you arrive at some common ground.  You prep your candidate with all the pertinent details such as confirmation of the date and time, the contact information, the driving directions, the dress code, the employment application etiquette, and on and on.

 You've done it!  The client AND the candidate are finally on the same page.  You have structured the initial stage of a typical placement.

 I probably don't have to tell you how many ways this can "come off the tracks" from here.  Use your imagination.  After all, we're human and the most valuable asset to any company.  At the same time we're volatile, subject to the "push and pull" that our lives present.

 Please don't get me wrong.  The value in what we do is to finally make that match and set someone in motion to do bigger and better things.  Recruiters become responsible for a very significant aspect of people's lives . . . their financial livelihood.  That certainly gets me up in the morning, whether I've slept or not!

 The job is certainly not easy but the reward is immense.  Good recruiters are dedicated to the outcome and realize that the money will come as a result.  "The Middle" is always a tough place to exist.

 So, the next time you have the opportunity to work with a recruiter, show them the respect that they deserve.  You never know!  They may just set you up with the job of a lifetime!

 Come back to this page periodically for more stories about Life In The Claims Lane.  You'll always read some good stories and also some "horror stories", as we are all fond of telling.