Top habits/secrets of the very best recruiters -- I NEED YOUR HELP

Recently, my role with my company has changed. Previously, we had two full-time recruiters identifying candidates who then attended training sessions. Candidates received training which made them attractive to companies in my niche.

My role was to coordinate the placement process after these candidates received training.

Recently, we streamlined and our two full-time recruiters left. One is working for a major brand in our niche, while the other is attending a Top 15 MBA programs. No hard feelings...

Anyway, we now work from home offices and I received a "promotion." No longer placement manager, I am now recruiting manager. The key difference is I've inherited the responsibilities of the two departed full timers.

My job is to now recruit candidates, set up training events, and then place the top candidates from each event. Needless to say, it has become quite a task.

I've got a strong work ethic, I am a workoholic, and I have good time management skills, but I'm finding it hard to find balance in my efforts.

I've heard that the very best recruiters have specific habits they follow that make them successful. What are these habits/secrets?

I can easily work a 16 hour day. I have freedom to use my time as I see fit. I'm also equipped with a strong brand name and existing relationships.

I'm looking forward to all the advice. I need help to maximize my day. I'm in a do or die sort of proposition now. Nobody has ever managed all these responsibilities at once and I want to be successful. I'm young (25) and I can really make my mark.

THANK YOU!!!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Masterson on August 1, 2008 at 6:37pm

Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by pam claughton on August 2, 2008 at 3:47pm

They focus on the activities that result in placements, or as we used to say, 'whatever is closest to the money', so you prioritize your activity, have a daily list of jobs you need to send candidates on and keep the pipeline going until the job is filled, don't put all your eggs in one basket (something I've done and regretted, when you think your person is perfect and you don't need to send anyone else...big mistake, as all kinds of things can happen to derail the placement, but if you have great backups ready, you can keep the momentum going.)

Always be pipelining, interviewing great candidates, if you don't have a current search that fits them, then those will be the candidates you market to get more searches.

Interview a set number of candidates weekly and commit to it. This business is a numbers game and it starts with interviews, then track sendouts, and placements. Bump up your interviews and the other numbers should follow.

It's really all about smart activity. Be careful not to get caught up in busy work that doesn't lead to production..structure your day, so you're not doing administrative stuff during prime work hours, do it before or after your day, so you can spend the bulk of your time talking on the phone to candidates. Things like creating a research list on LinkedIn for instance, can take time, do it at the end of the day, so you're ready to hit your list the next morning.

Be careful about how much time you spend on watercooler stuff such as coming here. :) It's easy to get drawn into discussions or interesting articles, and then suddenly you've lost an hour...reward yourself with a visit here after you accomplish an hour or two of calls...or come at lunch or day end, anything so it doesn't cut into your productive time.

Anytime I feel things slow a little, this is what I do, just step back from the 'busy work' and focus on heads down activity. The good news is that you can turn things around very quickly.

Pam