What I’ve learnt from 6 years in recruitment

Has it been 6 years already?

The start of this month marked my 6th year working in recruitment, which is an achievement in it’s self. According to LinkedIn the average tenure in the industry is around 3 years. I’ve experienced my fair share of up’s and downs (we all do) but I’ve also been very fortunate to learn a lot, having been both an agency recruiter and an internal recruiter of a innovative tech company.

As a recruiter, you have the ability to help someone get their dream job, further someones career, help companies grow, and communicate with people from all walks of life. So, what have I learnt?

• People– The old saying of people buy from people comes to mind? This is why I believe it’s important to meet face to face and always be approachable. We haven’t been replaced by robots…yet. One thing I have learnt is that everyone is different. Not everyone wants to work at the largest company or even move for the most money. People want rewarding, fulfilling work that allows them to lead the lifestyle they choose. This could be something as simple as picking up the kids after school or getting to work on the latest technology.

• Service – In a service based industry reputation soon goes out of the window when the service goes south. People remember how you treat them not only when you could help them but when you couldn’t help them. There’s been times over the years I haven’t been able to help people first hand however I have been in a position to point them in the right direction to old contacts or through a friend of a friend.

• Personal Development – Never stop learning, even if your employer doesn’t invest in your training. Everyone’s a “specialist” but without having the actual experience and in-depth knowledge a job spec and CV are pages of buzzwords to the untrained eye.

• Passion – Lastly, but arguably the most important. If you don’t care why should anyone else? Clients and candidates entrust you to pitch themselves as best as possible.

Working within the recruitment industry has incredibly rewarding from both a professional and personal point of view. It’s a privilege to be in a position where you can make a positive impact on people’s lives on a daily basis.

Here’s to the future *raises imaginary glass of champagne*