Where’s the menace? Have recruiters gone soft?
A recent LinkedIn poll asked respondents to cite which single trait they felt was most important to be a successful recruitment consultant. The results, from 540 votes, are below.
But isn’t there a key trait missing? Like the ability to sell?!
Whilst I don’t deny any successful recruiter must be able to establish rapport and be an effective listener, I would have thought proactive persuasion far outranks reactive responsibility acceptance.
And on the subject of traits missing from this poll, where’s passion? Change the subjective meekness of ‘goal-driven’ to overtly explosive ‘passion’ and I would be surprised if this trait wasn’t vying for top-spot. It does in my world.
Of course, I understand our industry has evolved from the cash-thirsty barrow-boy patter that used to echo around the boiler room walls but recruiters still need to do some convincing along the way, don’t they? Surely not every candidate works exclusively with one recruiter and do clients now see every candidate that lands in their inbox? Does every agency work at nothing less than 25%? Is everyone managing large accounts, taking clients out for lunch every day?
If so, I want my old job back!
