The Keys to Success as a New Recruiter - Spark Hire

The Keys to Success as a New Recruiter - Spark HireWhen youre new to recruiting, the job may feel overwhelming. The location requires far more than just finding a potential candidate and submitting their materials to the hiring manager. If youre looking to excel as a recruiter, keep these tips in mindKnow how to network It may sound obvious, but many new recruiters overlook the importance of bolstering their network. You should be networking every day, and shouldnt rely on only one method to do so. Call someone who has an interesting background, reach out on Twitter, or send a message on LinkedIn. Strike up a conversation at a cocktail party, and meet friends of friends. Even if you dont have an opening that matches that persons skills and needs at that time, its always good to have a lot of connections to work off of.Get a mentor You can learn a lot just by watching a more veteran recruiter at work. Notice how they talk on the phone or leave voice mails, and find out what kinds of t ricks they use to find the best candidates for an open position. Its often good to have more than one mentor, as no two recruiters work in exactly the same way. If your company doesnt set you up with a mentor when you come on board, do your own research in order to find someone you admire. Many people are more than happy to help coach new recruiters to success.You dont just have to recruit within your area of expertise Some recruiters think that they have to recruit people for jobs with which they are familiar. In reality, quite the opposite is true. Thanks to the Internet, you can do research about any field. Just because you know nothing about engineering, doesnt mean you lack the tools to recruit for this kind of position. With a little understanding and an open mind, its possible to learn about any field. Ask plenty of questions. People who work in that field can often provide you with the insight you need to successfully recruit for that position.Get on the phone Whether its ou t of laziness or fear, some recruiters try to do all of their recruiting strictly online. They rely heavily on social media and shy away from the phone. While this may work for some people, it makes it harder for a new recruiter to be successful right away. Social media is certainly a powerful tool for recruiters, but you cant be afraid to pick up the phone and make a call. Talking to someone on the phone forges a more powerful connection than e-mail or social media alone. Though it may seem intimidating at first, eventually youll get more comfortable and will have no problem making a few calls.Lastly, dont forget to follow up. Far too many people have lost great prospects because they dropped the ball after making the initial contact. If you have to, keep a spreadsheet that reminds you when you need to follow up and with whom. This is a huge part of the job, and its one you have to master in order to be successful.Are you new to recruiting? What have you learned about the field so far? If youre a recruiting veteran, how did you get comfortable with your position?

Talk Careers with Your Kids When Theyre Kids

Talk Careers with Your Kids When Theyre KidsTalking Careers with Your KidsTalk Careers with Your Kids When Theyre KidsAs a parent, how many times have you seen public service announcements that tell you to talk with your kids about sex or drugs? Today, I think the conversations should also cover careers and career management. Why? This economy has wreaked havoc on not only my generation, but the others in the workforce as well. In some ways, we will never return to what a lot of us have experienced.Now, some of you might ask How do we talk with our kids about careers without turning them off? The answer is simple Start at an early age, when theyre in high school, if not earlier. But some parents make the mistake of trying to have all the answers, always giving advice and always ready with a solution.My daughter has taught me best how to handle these conversations. Here are a few of her inspirationsDad, sometimes I just want you to listen and not try and solve everything.Listening mea ns giving me your undivided attention.I need you to guide me and coach me, not make decisions for me.My rule of thumb now is a recruiting version of the 80/20 rule, with her taking the lead role of talking (80% of the time), while I question her just 20% of the time to bring better clarity.Its amazing what we can learn from our kids. I now find myself at times having to realize that Im talking to an accomplished young person. Almost any encounter can be a teaching moment for both of you.I always told my daughter to follow her dream, find her passion, and build a career around it. Here are five talking points that you, as a parent, can consider when you have this conversation with your own childCareer Management Realize that you are the CEO of all your hopes and dreams. You will determine the trajectory in your career, so always manage it.BrandingWhat are the one or two things that make you stand out? Always be conscious of those. What types of signals are you sending? Are you seen a s a go-getter? A slacker? Or something in between? Determine what your brand will be.Networking Practice delivering a two-minute pitch that says who are you and what youre about. Thats the proverbial Tell me about yourself. Think of three to four sentences that will tell anyone not only who you are but whats important about you. (Parents, invite your kids to a networking fest youre attending and show them how they should properly introduce themselves.)Resumes A great time to think about writing your first resume is as soon as you begin high school. Once you start job hunting and working, always keep it updated and available. Add to it as soon as you complete a new assignment or earn a promotion. Many times, youll meet someone who will want to see your resume right away. (Parents Teach your kids to think of the resume as something you build throughout your life. Show them yours and discuss the importance of keeping it up to date, provided yours is.)Performance Its extremely important to always perform at your highest level. Performance differentiates who will win in career management. Promotions and raises will come when you work beyond the description of your current job and make contributions that demonstrate your true value to the business.These discussions have paid off considerably. My daughter is now juggling two internships, both in her area of interest and our career conversations continue. Like other major life topics, career management discussions should start early to offer the best chance of helping your kids thrive rather than struggle.