Imagine making and taking several calls a day, screening candidates, evaluating processes, and performing daily tasks—this can be a lot to handle for a person. However, well-organized and successful recruiters find productive ways to retain order and control.
As a recruiter, you’ll need to pose certain traits and develop habits that will lead you to become successful in your profession. While it’s true that recruiters have their unique ways of dealing with their tasks, being organized can help them keep track of discussions and avoid work troubles. Whether you function within a recruitment agency or an organization, below is a rundown of the top habits of highly organized recruiters or HR professionals that can help you aim for excellence.
1. Start everything with a to-do list
More often than not, you’d need to list down everything you need to do before you start the day since our mental note can only remember so much. And as recruiters, your daily functions can get all over the place, which is why you need to split your duties into manageable chunks. Setting mini goals to achieve major goals will allow you to work on manageable tasks.
Jotting your tasks down on paper or digital notes can give you a clear visualization of all the things you need to accomplish. You can check out the urgent-important matrix to help you strategize your workflow efficiently.
2. Use colors to categorize your tasks
Many recruiters are big fans of highlighters, pens, and colored post-it notes. The color-coding system is useful for differentiating processes and separating clients. For instance, you can assign a specific color for a client’s folder for easy and quick identification.
Color-coding also works for monitoring progress. When sourcing candidates, recruiters can easily track the progress with color codes (green = OK for a face-to-face interview, yellow = phone interview done, red = need to reject). This can also be applied to physical folders and spreadsheets.
3. Set mini deadlines before aiming for major tasks
Wouldn’t it be nice to start your working day with an achievable timeframe? Sometimes, you’ll find yourself spending a little too much time managing your email or doing admin work. Next thing you know, you’re cramming for a major task.
In recruitment, you’ll juggle a lot of tasks. But a good time management system uplifts the unnecessary stress off your shoulders and keeps you on track. Giving yourself mini-deadlines each day gives you more time to focus on important matters.
4. Plot in your calendar
It’s hard to keep track of the dates and times when you’re set for calls, interviews, meetings, and your daily tasks. Following a strict and organized calendar prepares you for what’s next and helps you stay on top of things.
Plot your daily tasks, meetings, interviews, and everything else that needs your full attention in your calendar to help you stay focused and productive throughout the day. Once done, make sure to check completed tasks off your list and change the color on your calendar. Seeing how much you’ve accomplished for the week or month gives an unparalleled sense of accomplishment.
5. Simply return a call
A well-organized and accomplished recruiter accepts calls, listens to inquiries, returns missed calls, and finally, crosses this action out of his or her to-do list.
Recruiters make a lot of calls each day, from screening a candidate to communicating with employers. It only makes sense that they act the way they want to be treated. Something as simple as returning a call when they’ve missed one sets a good example.
6. Be wary of your reputation
There will be days where you’ll feel, as a recruiter, that what you do is a thankless profession. But as a professional and successful recruiter, your core values are what keeps you going as it influences what you do.
Credible recruiters know that decisions reflect in their character and work ethics, which is why they make organized and smart decisions to avoid tarnishing their namesake and business reputation. For the most part, employers and candidates will remember your character and integrity.
7. Grow, grow, and grow your network
Excellent recruiters build a long-term relationship with old and new connections. They actively reach out to potential candidates in their talent community to see they’ve developed new skills, or if they have any referrals to share from their network. They do this via email, phone, or through network events.
A memorable ice breaker in physical gatherings or a positive interview experience can be a good enough foundation to initiate conversations that bring awareness for your positions. The more people you know, the higher the chances you can get to find top talents.
8. Have a proactive approach
Recruiters have a few drops of fearlessness running through their veins. This quality echoes in their cold calls, how they approach each candidate, how they inform those who aren’t fit, and how they communicate with clients.
Successful recruiters don’t just rely on the available tools today. These new technologies are useful, but recruiters still prefer to pick up the phone and reach out. With this attitude, they get to connect with more quality candidates and accomplish great results with their daily tasks as well.
9. Look for ways to improve
The willingness to learn more and improve easily separates good recruiters from the exceptional ones. They’re never content with a mediocre system, or merely “okay” with their job.
They oversee if there’s anything they need and can do to improve processes. They acknowledge that there’s always room for improvement in terms of skills, operations, and personal and professional development.
10. Set a big vision
Effective recruiters are driven by a vision of their work. They commit a big image in mind as a reminder to strive towards attaining it. For instance, their ultimate vision is to lead their organization or clients to growth with the right talents for them.
Excellent recruiters don’t just look into mundane affairs. They pay attention to the grander scheme of things from both perspectives.
Summing it up
Good recruiters simply qualify for the job role and can perform the fundamentals of their responsibilities. Successful recruiters are well-organized, dedicated, persistent, and proactive when it comes to connecting their company and clients with the right candidates that are set to make an impact. You can still stick to your own style as a recruiter but having a solid foundation of organization can make you a well-rounded recruiter.
Go right ahead and incorporate these highly effective habits into your daily routines to improve your work, drive great results, and become a successful recruiter.
