Tricks of The Trade

Shari Last, Staff Writer

The Recruitment Times features opinions and commentary from recruiters. We conduct surveys on topical issues surrounding the industry. If you would like to provide your comments to the questions we pose email us.

To hunt out some tricks of the recruitment trade, some tips for the tip-top consultant agencies, this fearless reporter decided to interview a selection of the most difficult to please, ruthless and intimidating people one could ever hope not to meet (unless you’re in the recruitment industry): jobseekers. “I’m not looking to compromise. I want a job, a good one. One that suits me and that I enjoy. And I want it now,” says petite, well-spoken student Liza. Enough said.

When asked what really turns him off about recruitment consultants, twenty-four year old Simon responded, “When they get too pushy. Believe me, if I like the job – I’ll take it.” A common preoccupation with recruitment firms is turnover. The more candidates slotted into vacancies, the more commission there is to be made. Consultants tend to forget that the majority of jobseekers are not trying to be evasive or indecisive, they are simply trying to evaluate the pros and cons of the proffered job. So:

Tip 1: Remember they made the effort to come to you; don’t push.

Tip 2 is of a more positive nature. Online recruitment. According to a survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters, over 75% of final year job-hunting students use online recruitment websites. Keeping up with the competition should be enough of an incentive to start thinking about online recruitment (if you haven’t already). Monster boasts over 2,000,000 candidates. Janet, from Reed, comments that “online recruitment accounts for a significant proportion of our business.” It’s not hard to understand why: jobseekers prefer to try out internet options before embarking on the arduous trek to the nearest agency. “Yes,” agrees Geoff, who got his current management job through a recruitment website. “It was a stroke of luck. I searched for what I wanted, applied and got an interview in, like, three days.”

It is important to make your website stand out if you’re thinking of creating an online side to your practice. Establishing a brand image, or a good reputation, is the best way to go about this. When faced with the 4,370,000 hits that come up when you Google ‘online recruitment consultant’, make sure that when your firm comes up there will be a flash of recognition in the jobseeker’s confused and desperate brain. Another way to be all high-tech (but without having to establish your own website and have to deal with htmls and domains and techinicans,) is to join on to sites like Monster or Jobsite, or to smaller, more specific websites such as ten-percent, a legal sector website.

Tip 3 is don’t be too nice. It is always good to be reminded of your professional relationship with the jobseeker. They did not come to you for career advice or a loving affirmation of their abilities as an employee. Of course, it is imperative to be friendly and approachable – but it is equally imperative not to end up with a candidate whimpering into your shoulder about how they’ll never find a job. Jonas, a twenty-six year old describes how he was once calmly enquiring about an accountancy vacancy when the consultant began telling him about her ex-boyfriend. “It was interesting,” Jonas grins, “but not entirely, er, efficient.” Candidates appreciate a no-nonsense, business-like attitude perhaps more than they value a friendly disposition.

Of course there are many more tricks of the trade which include employing feng shui in your office and having various commission agreements with clients along the lines of an employ-ten-get-paid-for-eleven scheme. However, these three basic tips are straight from the mouths of your most important, although non-paying, customers and best of all, they shouldn’t be too hard to take on board.

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