I think there is a combination of things that come into play when independent recruiters are looking for candidates – sometimes it takes alignment of the stars. I don’t think I would say luck plays that much of a part in the process (mostly because I don’t believe in luck), but I would say that things have to line up just perfectly in order to fill that purple squirrel position. I often write about things that independent recruiters can do to give themselves a better chance of making a placement but today I’m going to write about mistakes recruiters make that will keep them from making a placement.
- Recruiting actively for passive candidates – Get off the computer and get on the phone! A passive candidate isn’t going to be cruising the internet for their next position. Use LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to find qualified candidates instead of waiting for them to come to you.
- Using the same recruiting techniques for all levels of positions – “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” I’m not sure where that quote came from but I’ve seen and heard it many times. It sums up this mistake perfectly. Enough said.
- Writing a lame job description – Why should you expect a candidate to make any effort in applying for a position if it’s clear you didn’t make an effort to write an enticing job description? I will say, though, that there is a fine line between too little information and too much. Find that line and stick to it.
- Poorly executed interviews – Make sure your interview challenges the candidate. Boring interviews will likely create boring results. It’s possible that if you don’t ask the right questions a creative and thoughtful candidate will seem boring and dull.
- Not learning your client’s business – I’m not saying you need to know every nook and cranny of the company, but you do need to know more about the company than the words in the job description. As a recruiter, it’s your job to understand what your client is looking for so you might have to do a little extra research.
I don’t want to offend any independent recruiters and say that these are dumb mistakes, but I would hope that most of you aren’t making more than one of them. If so, it’s time to re-evaluate your sourcing techniques and start making more money!