Are You a Certified Recruiter? Why not?

Let start one step back from Recruiter Certification. I view recruiter certification as the culmination of a commitment to your profession as a recruiter. So maybe we should start at the beginning.

Where does the commitment to the profession begin? To me it is connecting with and getting connected to others that are working in the same profession as you, a recruiting industry trade association or group. You are a member of RecruitingBlogs, that is a sign you get it! There are many professions that are legitimized by a governing body or an association that ensures professionalism and standards. I want my lawyer to pass the Bar Exam, I want my doctor to be a member of the appropriate medical association and I want my pilot to be a member of the trade association or governing body that pilots belong to. I expect professionals to be connected to other professionals so that I don’t get bad medical advice or a pilot that doesn’t understand the dangers of wind shear.

So for me…

STEP 1. Join a recruiting industry trade association or recruiter association like the National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS) in the US. There are other groups in Canada like ACCESS or in Australia like RCSA. As a point of reference only, our organization so believe in this that we have joined NAPS and make NAPS membership available to our members for just $100 annually. We are committed and walking the talk.

STEP 2. Study the manuals necessary to become an expert on issues and legal requirements of performing to the highest and most ethical standards of your profession. Look for a certification class and take it. Finally once you are confident, take the recruiting association’s exam to become a certified recruiter.

If you expect to be treated like a professional and want your clients to view you as committed to the profession, do these two things. Join your industry’s trade association and get your professional certification. It does cost much or require much time but it will set you apart from the crowd.

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Comment by Jerry Albright on September 28, 2012 at 10:54am

Comment by Dave Nerz on September 28, 2012 at 11:10am: So cool!!!! 1992 that is 20 years ago, way to do it!

Comment by Jerry Albright on September 28, 2012 at 11:14am: Back then many of the agencies were very "traditional" in my area. Becoming a CPC was very important.

Comment by Jerry Albright on September 28, 2012 at 2:28pm: Personally - I don't really feel the CPC has ever helped me. It looks good on the wall though. Oh - and my mom was proud of me. (Since I bailed on college.....)

Comment by Dave Nerz on September 28, 2012 at 2:44pm: Perhaps people don't know what the CPC is all about. If you want to learn how to do more business, go to the million dollar billers. If you want to do business within acceptable legal guidelines and keep yourself and your clients from being sued, look at a CPC.

How would you feel about an electrician that learned to wire from a peer group that installs lots of wires (big billers) but they didn't take the time to learn your local codes. When it came time to move into your house and the inspector condemned your house because code was not met how would that go over?

I understand there may not be much in it for you but how about your clients? They really don't care or perhaps they just expect you to up to speed technically?

Comment by Bill Schultz on September 28, 2012 at 2:47pm: Oh - and my mom was proud of me. (Since I bailed on college.....)

LOL

Comment by Jerry Albright on September 28, 2012 at 2:52pm: Truth be told though, really, the test was rather basic. You had to know the basics in employment law, etc. but it wasn't an exhaustive program. In reality it seemed to me to be more about establishing an elite membership, charging fees to be part of the "society" as well as a continued need for "credits" (established much later) to keep your CPC standing. Luckily I was grandfatered in. :)

Comment by Joe Redshaw on October 1, 2012 at 9:26am: I never believed too much in certifications. They do contain some very good information, but I think people think to highly of them. Here is another case/example.

I have a degree in Kinesiology. I was ACE certified as a personal trainer. The test had tons of great information in it. I ended up getting into recruiting and let the certification pass. I was thinking of working part time in a gym (more for the free membership) and was asked if I was certified. I said I had a BS degree, but my certifications lapsed. The person said I would need to get a certification again if I wanted to work there. She said it didn't matter which one, as there are quite a few.

So my thoughts are that they can be good, but people flaunt them too much. One can definitely get the information in these certifications elsewhere. They are too flashy and people use them as such. I don't need a piece of paper to tell me I understand the legal issues of hiring or how to hire. But I also understand that I don't know everything and there could be some good information in these exams. If my work would pay for them, I would take them.

Comment by Steven Guine on October 1, 2012 at 9:28am: While I do agree with the overall tenets of Mr. Nerz (we all should endeavor to project more professionalism if our field), there are alternate and valuable ways in which to do the same.

Joining an organization which encourages professionalism is, in my humble opinion, the best way to learn about the business of recruiting and to continue to do so.

The Recruitment Process Outsourcing of America and the Human Capital Institute (HCI) offer a plethora of information about staffing, policy and procedure, best practices and compliance. I would be remiss if I were to forget the Electronic Recruiter's Exchange (ERE). It is a treasure trove of helpful information.

RecruitingBlogs is fast becoming a source for information about our industry. There are a lot of people who are happy to share their insights on our industry. I know I am taking advantage of it.

We live in a time where information is literally at our fingertips. The CPC is a step in the right direction, but not the only one.

Thank you for providing yet another informative blog post.

Comment by Ryan Leary on October 1, 2012 at 10:04am: Mentorship / apprenticeship is probably a better road to success. A certification in most cases means you can retain information well and that you passed an exam.

I know far to many recruiters who are certified in AIRS and absolutely haven't the first clue about identifying candidates.