Independent
recruiters offer employers and candidates an opportunity to connect to
resources to which they may not otherwise have access. But today’s recruiter playing field
feels crowded with so few companies hiring and so many recruiters clamoring for
the job orders available. So how does an independent recruiter stand out?
1. Independent recruiters
should be creative when it comes to winning over clients by exhibiting
resourcefulness when sourcing talent.
Don’t just depend on candidates who are actively marketing themselves
online, employers can access these candidates without your help. Make sure you tap into the large pool
of passive candidates waiting for you to contact them about your job
opportunity.
2. Measure your results. What is your interview-to-placement
ratio? What is your job
order-to-fill ratio? Do you have a good idea of how many of your placements are
retained for a year or more?
Successful recruiters tract these metrics and share them with potential
clients giving them an edge over the competition.
3. Focus on your
strengths. Every recruiter needs
to know what they are and are not good at. If you don’t have the connections in a certain industry or specialty,
don’t fake it. It is better to
turn down an “opportunity” than to ruin a potential relationship with a client
by not delivering on your promises.