5 Essential Recruiter Skills
It's definitely no secret that a successful recruiter needs to be versatile. But what exactly does that mean?
In this competitive job market, being a good recruiter is more than just finding suitable candidates. It’s about juggling a range of different skills to find, attract, and keep the best people for the job.
So, whether you’re new to recruiting or just want to up your game, this blog covers five essential recruitment skills every recruiter should have.
Essential Recruiter Skills - And Why You Need Them
Although it was tough, we’ve pinpointed five recruiting skills that are absolutely essential yet often underrated - and mastering these will make a huge difference in your career.
Here are the details:
Communication Skills Are Key
Strong communication skills are incredibly important for any successful recruiter, whether they're chatting face-to-face, on a video call, or even sending an email.
Clear communication is one of those key soft skills that can make a huge difference. When you really focus on nailing your delivery, it helps everyone understand what's needed and expected. If a recruiter can explain a job clearly, the right candidates will apply, saving time for both you as the recruiter, the client and the applicants.
In recruitment, being able to read the room and talk to people in a friendly and clear way also makes a big difference.
Some examples of communication skills that successful recruiters use:
Actively paying attention to hiring managers and also candidates' responses throughout the recruitment process, showing a genuine interest, and understanding their needs and preferences.
Adaptable communication and adjusting communication style to suit different candidates and situations.
Understanding the difference between open-ended and probing questions to gain deeper insights into candidate's experiences and motivations.
Knowing how and when to give constructive feedback to candidates to help them improve.
Understanding how body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice can impact interactions.
Learning how to mediate between hiring managers and candidates to find a mutually acceptable solution when there is a difference in expectations.
Writing personalised email responses to candidates or rejection letters that leave a positive impression.
Tailoring your communication to be inclusive.
Relationship Building & People Skills
Next, building strong relationships with both candidates and clients is very important. You might be thinking that this one's a given, but you'd be surprised at how many recruiters lack this must-have skill!
Having great people skills makes the recruitment process much smoother and helps in finding the right match for the job. Good relationships also help build trust, which means you're likely to end up with long-term, valuable connections. This is because candidates are more likely to trust you, listen to your advice and reach out when they're ready for a new role.
And on the other side, good relationships with clients are just as important. If the hiring process was smooth and successful with you, hiring managers are going to be much more likely to reach out again when they're looking for top talent.
Here are some ways to work on your relationship-building skills:
Attend industry events.
Get online and use LinkedIn to connect with potential candidates and clients.
Depending on your industry, attending job fairs might also help you meet great people in the industry.
Always be respectful to absolutely everyone you meet, regardless of where they're at in their career.
Recruiters can sometimes have a reputation for using overly pushy tactics during the hiring process. This is a perfect example of bad people skills! In reality, skilled recruiters will understand boundaries and work on being transparent, open and clear with people.
Learn Active Listening Skills
Active listening is probably one of the most essential recruitment skills. It means really paying attention to what the other person is saying, not just waiting for your turn to talk or thinking about how you're going to respond. This will help you build rapport with candidates and clients, as it shows that you care about what they are saying to you and what their needs from the recruiting process are.
Plus, having good listening skills means you can actually better match candidates to roles and respond to their concerns. For example, if your client mentions to you that they are struggling with a high turnover and need someone who'd fit into the team well, you can focus on candidates with strong interpersonal skills and a proven track record of improving team dynamics. This ensures that you're addressing the client's core issue, making the recruitment process more targeted and successful.
Time Management Skills
Getting good at managing your time is very important in recruitment.
As a recruiter, you will often have many tasks to handle at once. And good time management helps you stay organised and work efficiently. It means you can learn how to be comfortable with your multitasking skills, with the ability to focus on the best candidates and your clients simultaneously without getting stressed.
To manage your time well, you should prioritise tasks, set goals, and use tools to keep track of what needs to be done. Here are some examples:
Keep a list of tasks and do the most important ones first. For example, if you have a meeting with a client and several emails to answer, attend the meeting first because it's more time-sensitive and urgent.
Use calendars, to-do lists, and recruitment tools to keep track of tasks and deadlines.
Set reminders for scheduling interviews, check your job boards, respond to emails and follow-up calls with candidates in advance.
Learn How to Negotiate
Negotiation skills are essential for making sure you're able to keep both the client and the candidate happy. It’s about understanding what both sides want and finding a solution that works for everyone. These skills help close deals faster and keep both the candidate and the employer satisfied.
Here's some advice for sharpening your negotiating skills:
Be very clear about what the client or candidate is bringing to the table, listen to the other side, and find a middle ground.
Prepare, prepare and then prepare more. In other words, make sure you're thoroughly ready before entering negotiations. This will help you present your case more convincingly and handle any potential challenges that come up during a negotiation.
Find a win-win solution. Good negotiation means both sides are happy. For example, if the client can’t quite meet the candidate's salary request for a particular role but they're a perfect fit, you might negotiate to factor in tangible promotion opportunities based on performance. This will help ensure the candidate remains feeling valued and satisfied with the offer.
Looking for A New Opportunity In Recruitment? Get in Touch Today!
We hope you've found our article on the 5 most essential skills that every recruiter needs useful. And if you're a recruiter looking for the best job openings, get in touch with us directly today at 0151 427 9843.