Top Qualities to Look for in a Recruiter

According to HR Cloud, every vacant position costs your company $500 a day. To mitigate those costs, and the other challenges that come with extended vacancies, the recruitment process should be a top priority. As important as it may be, filling those roles is no easy task, especially as the talent gap continues to widen.

Many companies are partnering with recruiters to gain access to candidates they are unable to find and attract directly, and to expedite the recruiting process and save money — but the recruiter you choose to work with can make or break your experience. Here are the top qualities you need to look for when you are deciding which recruiter to work with to meet your goals.

Confident

No one is going to jump at your job offer if the recruiter isn't confident throughout the process. Working with a confident recruiter means they are comfortable engaging with potential candidates and positioning your role with them in a way that helps it stand out. It is also likely that they’ll be able to effectively manage salary negotiations between both parties and, if it comes to it, break bad news to you or a candidate with tact.

Communicative

Your recruiter should naturally be able to communicate well with you, your potential candidates, and anyone else they partner with to find the best candidates, representing the best interests of all parties accurately, and to the greatest extent possible. Second, they must communicate often, proactively keeping you in the loop as to where they are in the process, and letting you know about any challenges they are facing so you can manage your own expectations and those of the other leaders in your company.  

Passionate

Passion shows itself in many forms, whether it means sharing thought leadership, speaking at conferences, or simply helping you meet your challenges with enthusiasm and vigor. Recruiters who are passionate about their trade will go the extra mile for you because they truly care, and they enjoy the work that they are doing.

Patient

A sense of urgency and a bias for action are important traits within recuitment. As many are taught early on, ‘time kills all deals’. However, successful recruiters are also known for being both patient and persistent. They understand that the journey to finding the best candidate is not a race, and is not always linear. Things don’t always go to plan during the recruitment process — candidates change their minds, interviews get rescheduled, the requirements for the role change. Your recruiter should handle all of this with grace and professionalism.

Accountable

We’ve all had someone overpromise and then underdeliver. Your recruiter is the last person you want to do this, especially when money and other company objectives are on the line. Talk with your recruiter early on to set expectations, and don’t be afraid to point out if they don’t follow through. Unexpected events can occur during the recruitment process, but you shouldn’t be the last to know. You certainly shouldn’t feel like your recruiter was not upfront about it.

Curious 

Recruiters work with many clients, and frequently work across many industries as well. You want to work with a recruiter who will take the time to understand the unique challenges your company is facing, and how industry trends may help you address them. The best recruiters are tenaciously curious and will ask you as many questions as needed to ensure they have all the information required to help you find top-level candidates.

Recruiters provide a valuable service to companies with job openings to fill, but at the end of the day, selecting your recruiter may be the most important ‘hiring’ decision you make. Take the time to screen potential recruitment partners and consider which qualities and characteristics they possess.