How to become an ‘ACE’ recruiter
If there is a particular topic on recruiting that I have been asked about over the years more than any other, it is on the subject of: what attributes/personality/skills makes for a good recruiter and what stands the great recruiters apart from the rest?
To help us start to come close to an answer I would first of all like to ask you a question or two. Why do some of the world’s technically best sports men and women never break into even the top 50 in their field? Why do some of the less gifted punch consistently above their weight (no pun intended) and why do some of the most technically gifted and best athletes who are at the top of their game start underperforming by their own extremely high standards?
We all know that the right amount of knowledge and skills when combined with appropriate personality traits will make a big difference as to whether someone is technically & emotionally capable of doing any given job. So when we take the role of the recruiter, on paper you should be able to hire someone who will be able to perform to an agreed minimum acceptable standard time in and time out. But will they all? No of course not.
So is there something else that can make the difference? Something that can help us make less poor hires? Something that can help us perform better? The answer I believe is yes and it’s not just one thing but three that will make the difference. Number one is attitude. Number two is consistency. Number three is environment. (ACE)
All three need to be right for people and organisations to prosper. There are numerous examples of great recruiters flopping when they moved organisations. There are scores of examples of underperforming recruiters positively thriving in a different environment. Similarly many recruiters have good weeks and then bad weeks, perhaps a great quarter and then a bad quarter. That comes down to consistency and not just that of their own performance. And we all know just what a difference the right attitude can make (from employer and employee) to any given outcome.
So if you are a recruiter and want to be the very best: consistently show the right attitude in an environment that works for you. Find an organisation that matches your outlook on life -not necessarily for life - but for long enough so you can get where you want to be on your ladder for success. If that ends up being the same organisation for the rest of your career, then all the better.
If you are an employer or manager then as well as making sure you do the above for yourself, hire people who will positively thrive in the environment you create. Make them fully aware of what life will be like working for and with you and what will be expected of them. Be as sure as you can that you and the employee are right for each other. When they leave you wish them well knowing you have taken them as far as you can. Be far more concerned about them performing consistently well while they are with you – that way they will be a lot less likely to leave you!
