DataBases – The Real Deal

The recent article on Candidate Care ( Anna Hodges) and the responses clearly indicated recruiters still haven’t got it. And that’s disappointing as it was over 20 years ago I outlined one of the most essential features of a recruiters database. So here it is again.

FOLLOW UP!!!

Every Candidate should have a recontact date.
That date, with associated notes, should be completed by the consultant or resourcer. Using the recontact date, a list should be complied each month of those not contacted that month. No candidates recontact date should outstanding for over one month ie, if the recontact date is 15 July, they must be contacted before 15 August. For instance, you are talking with a Contractor and his contract finishes end May, enter April as a recontact date. You are talking with a Senior Exec who is not interested in moving as he has a big bonus coming in November; enter October as a recontact date.
Simple really – how does your database compare?
Don't have recontact dates - you're kidding!!!

I hear of so many Recruitment Companies bragging about their database of many thousands of Candidates. The first question I ask is “is it live?” That is, do all Candidates have a recontact date less than 12 months and how many have not been contacted within the required timeframe? If it’s “not live”, you are not maximising one of its greatest features. And to those Managers shaking their heads, your database is one of your most valuable assets and if it’s “not live”, it’s worthless.

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Comment by Aaron Dixon on July 1, 2010 at 4:39pm: Your are totally right about this... if candidates are not active then how do we as recruiters expect to have good connection and have candidates lined up for availibility. Good post many people don't understand how worthless their database is unless they are connecting with there candidates consistantly and keep updated information on them. Your only as strong as the database you are collecting information from.