Recruiting Tools Don’t Equal Recruiting Success

It’s springtime in Michigan and with any luck, we’ve had our last freeze for awhile. This weekend, I’m going to be spending some time in my yard pulling weeds, moving dirt, and getting my tiny garden patch ready for planting. That got me thinking about how HARD some of this work is going to be, so I guess I’ll also be making a stop at my local hardware store to rent a few tools that will make the work easier. And THAT got me thinking about recruiting tools, which some people seem to think are all that’s needed to be a successful recruiter.

Here are three ways recruiting tools are like gardening tools:

Recruiting tools can make the job easier. I need to till the soil in my garden so that I can plant some vegetables. I can till by hand, but it’s hot and dirty, and will take me a long time, so I’m going to rent a gas-powered tiller. I’ll still have to till, but with the right tool, I can till more ground, in less time, with more uniform results. Recruiting tools offer the same assistance. You can use recruitment software to automate some tasks so that you can complete more tasks, in less time, more consistently…but you still have to complete the tasks.

Recruiting tools do not make you a recruiter. Between the skunk that likes to hang out in my yard and the winter snowfall, I need a new cover for my compost bin. I’ve got a brand-new Craftsman© circular saw, but since I don’t know how to build a cover, it’s not going to do me any good. (Anyone want to buy a saw?) Paying big money for a fancy ATS or an upgraded LinkedIn account won’t turn you into a recruiter. You can use the tool to find fertile ground (pun intended), but the tool won’t convince a passive candidate to switch jobs, make an interview happen, or convince a spouse to pack up and move.

Recruiting tools can’t evaluate or fix your process. A couple of summers ago I planted zucchini (or courgettes, depending on where you live). The plants grew huge, with lots of flowers. I had great soil, plenty of sunlight, and sufficient water, but never got a single zucchini. A farmer acquaintance told me the bees probably hadn’t shown up to pollinate the plants. Changing to a new irrigation system wouldn’t have solved my problem. If you think you’re doing all the right things, but your activities aren’t bearing fruit (again, pun intended), you might have a broken process as opposed to a faulty tool. Acquiring a new tool isn’t likely to change your outcome; you may need to reach out to a trusted adviser.

Gardening is a very part-time hobby for me, and I’m not very good at it. If my tomatoes don’t grow, I’ll simply make more visits to the local farmer’s markets and grocery stores. Recruiting is your livelihood. Learn how to be a great recruiter. Work hard at it. Hone your craft. Use appropriate tools to support your recruiting activities. Then you will be in a better position to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

What are you doing to ensure a bountiful yield in your garden?