It ain’t rocket science – or is it?
I have always held the premise that recruitment is not rocket science. It is a sales process ultimately that, if the right approach is taken, can actually be fairly simple. So why oh why do so many recruiters complicate it or even make it look harder than it actually needs to be?
I don’t know about you, but I am always comparing myself to my social circle and wondering if:
- Could I do their job?
- Could they do my job?
- Most importantly, whose job is easier?
I ask you: would you even consider becoming a teacher? Strangely, at least 3 very close friends of mine have chosen this profession in recent years and actually have become very accomplished teachers – they utilise commercial management techniques in a very political and archaic structure (well, in their schools anyway, not naming names!) and they have all commented that they think their new career is much harder work than any recruitment role they ever had. I personally can’t imagine working the hours they do (and they DO work long hours, it isn’t all about the 12 weeks holiday a year, honestly!) for a starting salary of £21k! Even a senior teacher in management will peak at about £40k and if they dared to work out their hourly rate – teaching is truly a vocation, you aren’t doing it for the money! I adore my own kids but all day every day with 30+ kids? Nah, you’re ok thanks!
I have other friends who are quite senior within healthcare, two in particular – a Consultant Neurologist and a Senior Community Sister. On a daily basis, they are facing life and death on behalf of their patients. The Consultant has to deal with telling new parents that their newborn child is mortally brain damaged and the Sister has to visit patients literally dying of cancer. They have an inner strength that comes from somewhere to allow them to be able to still come home and live relatively normal (what is normal?) lives with their own families.
What do recruiters do?
So, when I think about what we do as recruiters (and I am not dismissive in any way as you all know), don’t you think, just how much I LOVE recruitment – it makes you stop and think. STOP making it so darn hard!
Simple process:
- Speak to candidate – gain trust and exclusivity (ideally), build up knowledge to be able to match them accurately to your client base.
- Speak to client – Discuss your candidate with client, whom you have built up a partnership with so you know who they need.
- Feedback promptly – …and candidly throughout the process to both parties and without prejudice. Ensure timely process, manage expectations accordingly.
- Manage notice period – Candidate is offered role and manage their notice period. Finalise all contract information and ensure client is satisfied.
I have jumped just a few steps – ok – a LOT of steps but surely if you are reading this, I don’t need to teach you how to suck eggs…..
You get my point though. Which part of that process is actually life and death? Which part of that process isn’t actually really pleasant and exciting and interesting to be changing someone’s life?
Why can’t recruiters love their job?
And that is another really important point. The one thing that has kept me as passionate 15 years later. I really care and love changing people’s lives by finding them their perfect career move. What is wrong with admitting and saying….nay…SHOUTING that out loud?! Why don’t recruiters feel blessed to be financially rewarded for a process that is also altruistic, truly a great sense of job satisfaction too??
What other job could you do that can earn you a fantastic package? I regularly meet recruiters who earn £50-80k a year and they aren’t even 30 years old! You would have to be a headteacher or GP working 100 hours a week to be earning that, surely?
And no one dies? (well metaphorically speaking, sometimes they may just do if they haven’t prepared enough for the interview!!)
Do you catch my drift?
Recruitment is a privilege – we are creating a new career for each and every candidate and for the client and we are fulfilling their plan for growth. Enjoy that privilege, it is an opportunity to be creative, to do something special – stop overcomplicating it, ruining it and just be grateful to work in our very wonderful sector.
What do you think? Is recruitment a simple process? Have you recently become a recruiter and you agree with what I have said, perhaps you have changed sectors yourself? I would love to know what you think.
