Joining a split placement network can be a big boost to your recruitment business if you have an open mind and a good attitude. Below are five mental roadblocks that can hamper your success and lead you to question your decision.
Not being willing to consider new markets. Many recruiters have a defined niche whether it is geographical, industrial, or occupational. Joining a split placement network gives you the opportunity to expand your business if you keep an open mind. Perhaps you will have an opportunity to fill different types of roles for your existing clients (instead of having to turn those down). You may be able to serve your clients as they expand into new countries.
Not being willing to consider new ways to work. Your split placement network may offer proprietary software or access to a third-party ATS, which might offer the ability to streamline your recruiting process or improve efficiency. You may get to know other recruiting firm owners who run their businesses differently than you. While it can be difficult (and scary!) to make changes, it’s important to keep an open mind. In our network, for example, everyone does things a little differently. There are lots of ways to be successful; be willing to try something new!
Not being willing to trust your trading partners. For recruiters with limited (or unpleasant) experience making split placements, it can be daunting to trust your new trading partners. Hopefully you checked out your new split placement network to see what policies are in place, how frequently disputes occur, and how they are handled. If you are satisfied with these answers, you should feel comfortable trusting your trading partners. You know what else helps? Calling people on the phone and attending face-to-face meetings – both of these are so much more effective at building personal connections than sterile email communications.
Not being willing to share more information than “normal.” This goes hand-in-hand with trust. The recruiters I know who are most successful in a split placement network are those who share as much information as they can – the candidate’s complete contact details, the name of the client, the location of the job, etc. The ultimate goal is to get the opening filled quickly with the best person; withholding information doesn’t help achieve that goal. This particular item can be a big hurdle to overcome, but it pays big dividends.
Not being willing to learn from others with more experience/success. It’s generally not a good idea to come into a new experience thinking you already know how it works. Even if you’ve had previous success, listen to your peers. If they’ve been part of a split placement network for a long time, you might pick up a trick or two.
There are a lot of things to think about when you’re considering membership in a split placement network. Once you’ve made the commitment to join, make sure to keep your mind open to new ideas, new concepts, and new ways of doing business. Don’t block your own success!
