What made you a better recruiter? The Story of Old Joe

For me it was the opportunity to work for a couple of years with "Old Joe" who showed me that you do not need any fancy tools to recruit, just your briefcase (stuffed with resumes), your phone, your contacts and your perseverance. Old Joe could recruit almost anyone. Yes he was connected but his persevarance was legendary. Hearing him work a candidate or client on the phone was magic, as by the end of the call they were convinced to meet him, send or resume or give him business. When he met with customers, he always had a couple of "perfect fit" resumes ready, even before they gave him the work. Old Joe was pipelining top end candidates for certain companies even though he did not know or care about the word.

Joe did not have a website, a Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter account and worked out of his home and never marketed but he was a very rich man. I learnt a ton from this man.

 

What about you what made you a better recruiter, technology, years in the trenches, advice, candidate experience, mentor or something else?

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Permalink Reply by Suzanne Levison on September 23, 2011 at 11:13am
Listening to my "Old Joe" (mentor) who dressed and communicated with charisma of a CEO, Fortune 500 company.
Permalink Reply by Brian K. Johnston on September 23, 2011 at 11:15am
My Faith/Wife/Kids made me a better recruiter.  Serving a higher cause greater than myself with my faith, wife/kids, made me want to become a better servant to my Clients/Candidates, which leads to more $$$. (Energy Flows Where Attention Goes)
Permalink Reply by Francois Guay on September 23, 2011 at 11:27am
How true Brian, it' s surprising when you just let your passion for your work takeover who good things just come of it.
Permalink Reply by Kim Hudson on September 23, 2011 at 11:54am
I think that every great recruiter has thier own "Old Joe". I know I do and he has been a very big part of my success. On top of that it is having this drive inside myself to set goals and to obtain them. You can have the briefcase full of resumes but if you do nothing with it, then you will never be successful. I must also say that learning to take the "blinders off" and not try to find the perfect candidate ever, but to find the perfect candidate for that company / position.
Permalink Reply by Terry Cobb on September 23, 2011 at 12:39pm
I've enjoyed reading the various comments to this post.  I've been in recruiting for 30+ years and guess I'm like "the Old Joe's" others have learned from.  Recruiting isn't easy and it isn't for everyone but I've come across some real potential in my day and it was my pleasure to pass on to them some of the experiences that made my career so successful.  I say let's shout a big "Hell Yeah" for the new upcoming recruiters and for the old grey beards that can help them find their way.
Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on September 23, 2011 at 1:16pm
"Hell Yeah" from old Josephine.  Go get em kids!
Permalink Reply by Brian K. Johnston on September 23, 2011 at 2:08pm

Cheers to OLD JOE!!!

 

Permalink Reply by Bill Schultz on September 23, 2011 at 10:18pm
More doing, less talking about it,  and less whining.  That's what works for me.  Whining is for wussies and schmucks.
Permalink Reply by Francois Guay on September 24, 2011 at 7:10am
Good point Bill. I look forward to meeting you someday.
Permalink Reply by Bill Schultz on September 24, 2011 at 1:37pm

See some people on this board would perceive that as some sort of veiled threat.  But since I have a pair, I say: 

 

Oh that would be fun.  Give me a call, we'll set it up.  

Francois Guay said:

Good point Bill. I look forward to meeting you someday.
Permalink Reply by RecruitingBlogs on September 24, 2011 at 9:15pm

"Noel, we have an open position for a General Surgeon in Vermont.  Give them all a call and let me know who you get." 

 

"Call them all?"

 

"Yeah"

 

"You mean all of the General Surgeons in Vermont?"  

 

"Well that would be skipping a whole lot of them wouldn't it?"  

 

My old "Joe" had a way of making you work hard in those days.  Now it pays off with all the technology, but those early lessons are what still makes the placements happen.

 

Noel

Permalink Reply by Francois Guay on September 25, 2011 at 9:11am
Bill are you starting to buy into my paranoia? No worries, I will buy the first round.

Bill Schultz said:

See some people on this board would perceive that as some sort of veiled threat.  But since I have a pair, I say: 

 

Oh that would be fun.  Give me a call, we'll set it up.  

Francois Guay said:

Good point Bill. I look forward to meeting you someday.

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