12 attributes of kick-ass recruiters!!!

1. Integrity: Honesty. It is the cornerstone of trust. Without it all else is lost.
2. Will: Failure is not an option mindset. When I was brand-new recruiter (under 90 days) my manager came to me and asked, "So, you ready to quit yet Keith?" I replied, "There's only one of two ways you're gettin' rid of me: a. If you just flat-out fire me OR b. You carry me out of here on a stretcher because I'll eat a bullet before I fail."
3. Candor: The ability to tell it the way it is coupled with a healthy dose of tact.
4. Emotional wherewithal: Someone who doesn't freak out, stress out, or get the "placement blues" every time a an offer is about to be made. No stress grenades need apply!
5. Capacity Ability to comprehend psychology & human nature, learn from experiences, and understand their importance and the intellect to apply what they have learned correctly. Also, the ability to recognize that they can improve always.
6. Empathy: People don't care about what you know until they know you care.
7. Business savvy/acumen: Understanding of the things that drive business decisions.
8. Courage: Fortitude to do what's right even when it works against their own personal interests.
9. Natural curiosity: An inquisitive/investigative nature and desire to learn ensures you will discover and thus discern the truth from the BS.
10. Effort: Elbow grease, how much are they willing to invest in their own success.
11. Attitude: Positive mental attitude/can do/No quit in 'em.
12. Results: Quantifiable outcomes. Although results are not ONLY related to figures, percentages, and dollar signs they are easier to measure. However, don't forget about the little victories that may not make money today but will provide a huge return later i.e. forming a long-lasting substantive value-based relationships.

Performance-wise, I measure recruiters in three key areas: Effort, Attitude, and Results.

As long as they posses two of the three at any given time they're good with me.

Comment by Anna Hodges on June 30, 2010 at 7:35pm: I really love this posting - I hope you don't mind but I did actually use it in a training session this morning with our business!!! It was very inspiring and got us all thinking about what we do well and not so well in our jobs and what we should be striving for. so, thanks you :)

Comment by Brian Keith on June 30, 2010 at 9:18pm: Excellent, glad you found it helpful. What did your folks think of it?

Comment by Anna Hodges on June 30, 2010 at 9:39pm: Really well - everyone got different aspects out of each point and some points related directly to specific people which was quite funny! We also talked about self-awareness and how we present ourselves to clients and candidates which worked in quite well.

Comment by audrey chernoff on July 3, 2010 at 7:48pm: I too, like this post, but what are placement blues? I have never heard of that.

Comment by Brian Keith on July 5, 2010 at 9:54am: Thanks Audrey! Recruiters who shuffle about listlessly accomplishing nothing while waiting for an offer to be tendered/accepted are said to be suffering from the placement blues. Essentially, they can't think of anything else until the deal is done. lol BTW, I've done it too so I know firsthand haha

Comment by audrey chernoff on July 5, 2010 at 8:14pm: Thanks, I never heard of that. Sorry I took down my post, I wanted to keep it up, but wasn't sure.

Comment by Brian Keith on July 5, 2010 at 11:37pm: You're welcome. No worries on the post. Totally understand. Best of luck with your endeavors. Kick some of dat ass! ;-)

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