Recruiters: Stop Emailing and Pick up the Phone…

Why are you emailing the Client or Jobseeker every little question? I was talking with another recruiter about an open req. and their response was…I emailed them. My thought was….Why?

I find that too many Recruiters are hiding behind the computer. Do not be afraid to hear No or an answer you do not want to hear. Picking up the phone builds the relationship between you and the Client and you and the Job Seeker. Email can be a useful tool and complimentary tool but I believe your main source of communication should be the phone.

My challenge to you: Use the phone for everything for a month, change your habits and see how many more relationships and placements you can make. Stop hiding and let your voice be heard.

Comment by Bruce Rowles on January 14, 2013 at 8:48am: Thanks everyone - good responses and replies.

Comment by Paul S. Gumbinner on January 14, 2013 at 8:56am: There are times to email and times to call. I insist on speaking to clients on the phone, even when they send me email confirmation to make an offer. I need to hear the nuance in their voice so I can determine if there is room to negotiate. Ditto candidates when I am making an offer. I can tell by their tone whether they will accept and whether their bravado about the offer being too low is just that - bravado - or real. Unfortunately, emails have no emotion.

I never tell a candidate about a job in an email. I use emails to get them to call me. I cannot "sell" a job in an impersonal email. I may use an email, along with a call, to get a candidate to call me. They always return the call or email if they are really interested in a new job.

As for clients, most prefer to converse via email which is fine unless the conversation requires subtleties. Again, that is fine up to a point.

Comment by Kate Parkyn on January 15, 2013 at 9:38am: I completely agree with you and a well raised point. However, is anyone discovering that candidates are following this “trend” and are stuck behind a computer as well? (Could be a UK trend?)

I cannot call my candidates enough yet I’m seeing a growing number that I call and leave a message for then email me 2 minutes later wanting me to continue the conversation over email. I understand you are trying to juggle with people’s daily commitments in their current role and their time is precious however, even when offering to be flexible and speak to people in the evening or at weekends they would much prefer to email. (Hopefully it’s not me that they don’t want to speak too :) )

Just a thought

Comment by Karen Pearce on January 16, 2013 at 8:42am: It does make a difference. Thanks for the article.

Comment by Judy on January 16, 2013 at 9:26am: Right on! Our industry is built on relationships, what kind of a relationship can you have with an email! Ironic, as I send an email out to comment on this blog entry, tooooo funny!

Comment by Dominic (Whitehall Resources) on January 17, 2013 at 6:03am: Phone conversations are so much more efficient. Far less time consuming and are actually to the point. There is no reason why there will be unanswered questions at the end of a phone call like there can be with an email. You've really hit the nail on the head Bruce.

Comment by Nikki Taylor on January 20, 2013 at 7:53pm: I had to share our new system -simple and easy - think about before one emails client or candidate can I phone them instead - answer is YES - we are two recruiters / directors in one office now with a JAR on desk with glass marbles - for every call we make we add marble to jar and the idea is to see how many in one day ... right now i have one in jar so must go and carry on making calls. Also have encouraged clients to do the same and make the calls not email. Great article Bruce and we are on it!!! a great reminder to everyone.