Hot on the heels of Ruwaida’s advice in Part One, here are Georgiana’s tips for new recruiters and people who are thinking about becoming a recruiter.
1. Once your recruitment training is complete – be prepared to carry on growing as an IT recruiter.
Our Accelerate Recruitment Training is comprehensive; I had many people from different backgrounds complete training with me. The training sets the foundations; you will carry on growing as an IT recruiter the more time passes in the role. I like the positive attitudes all around, the different personalities and being able to share information and work as part of a large organisation. It results in a great work relationship with my peers at Microsoft Contractors and across all our other IT recruitment businesses within the Ellis Recruitment Group. We all get along really well and have a great time when we are all together.
2. Stick at it!
There is much to learn in recruitment – trust the process and stick at it! If you are a people person, this is definitely the right role for you. From a financial point of view, it is rewarding – especially as a young individual starting out in life.
3. Recruitment has structure – follow the process.
Before starting in recruitment, I thought IT recruitment was all about finding suitable candidates, there would be many candidates for all roles, and if you work in IT, you could work in most positions.
It is definitely much more than finding the right skill; being an IT recruiter is about:
- Finding the right personality for the clients
- Managing the whole recruitment process from:
- Initially receiving a role from a client
- Knowing the right specialist IT CVs (and personalities)
- Preparing candidates and clients for interviews – making sure both have a positive experience and find the right connection
- Interview feedback
- Candidate start dates
- Maintaining relationships throughout placements
Being part of Ellis Recruitment Group is a journey, and it has been interesting so far. It is a great environment overall, and being part of the Microsoft Contractors Team is amazing; we are a tight-knit unit that works hard and have a lot of fun while doing it!
4. Be confident, even if you may not feel it, to begin with. Listening to clients and candidates is key.
As silly as it may sound, my first success was having my first call with a candidate. One of the first struggles was asking all the right questions and earning the trust of the Candidates and clients I represented. I learned that it is essential to listen, therefore, understand what motivates people and what all parties require for a harmonious recruitment experience.
The best part about being an IT recruiter is identifying a need and finding the right fit for both the candidates and clients.
5. Planning is key – sometimes you will be disappointed, but try not to dwell on it. Your next call could be the call of your career!
I have had several successes already and have enjoyed going on a number of our achiever’s lunches! Dealing with rejection and people changing their minds can be very frustrating – but it means you get to know people in more depth and can find a suitable role while fulfilling clients’ requirements.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions; try to develop good habits and the proper way to do things. Because the activities that we do day in and day out can be repetitive, it is essential to have the proper foundation, and you will achieve your goals.
6. You may find recruitment overwhelming – if you do, take a step back and start back with the basics.
When starting as a recruiter, you need an open mind – try to absorb as much as possible. I know it can be overwhelming sometimes, but I promise it all makes sense the more you progress as a recruiter. From a monetary point of view, you will be financially rewarded if you work hard. It may not happen overnight, but I am in a great position as a young individual starting out in life.