Marvel vs. Marvel

Everybody loves superheroes, especially the Marvel characters that get you grabbing onto the edge of your seat at the cinema. In the real world, not all heroes wear capes and get acknowledged for their ‘superpowers’.

Recruitment Agents possess an array of these superpowers that sets them above the rest. However, according to Spiderman’s Uncle Ben, “with great power comes great responsibility”.

Being the middle man in a recruitment process holds a great deal of responsibility and requires specific skills to manage this responsibility in the most beneficial way to all parties involved. Looking specifically at Marvel characters, their superpowers can be used as an analogy for those specific skills required by Recruiters.

Spiderman:

Spiderman has super senses that gives him the ability to hear, see, smell and feel more intensely than the average human. Along with this, he almost has an extra sense of knowing when something is wrong.

To be a successful Recruiter, you need to develop an extra or a trained sense to read different situations, sense what people are feeling or thinking when talking to them, and to know when someone is hiding something that could be detrimental to the process of the placement.

Captain America:

Captain America effortlessly became the leader of the Marvel Universe. He is the hero that other heroes look up to, the leader of leaders. Without taking leadership, potentially successful plans are susceptible to great failure.

A Recruiter needs to be someone who leads according to a realistic plan but can also take the action to find solutions when necessary. They need to create a clear vision that others will follow willingly and provide information on how to turn this vision into a reality.

This is a daily challenge in the recruitment office. Each day, week and month is planned out, and when something goes wrong, you have to counter-attack with a solution. The ability to do this under enormous pressure should definitely be seen as a superpower!

Hawk Eye:

With Hawk Eye, it’s about accuracy. He possesses the super skill to eliminate the enemy with superb accuracy, using only his bow and arrow.

Accuracy in selecting the right candidate for the job is probably the biggest challenge for a recruiter and the main focus. Clients have specific requirements when it comes to hiring a new employee, and it is a Recruiter’s job to find that perfect candidate to meet the specific needs of the client.

Black Panther:

The Black Panther is a master planner who always thinks several steps ahead and will go to the extreme to protect the kingdom of Wakanda. He wears armour that enhances his fighting abilities and makes him super fast.

In recruitment, everything is attached to a time limit and, without speed and accuracy, you may lose candidates, miss targets, or fail to find the placement. Therefore, Recruiters need to create a method to achieve the most in the limited amount of time which acts as the armour of super speed.

Iron Man:

Tony Stark, A.K.A. Iron Man, is a scientist and business man that designed a high-tech suit to protect his vulnerable body against the superhuman forces he faces. Its all about the suit.

Being a Recruiter, you must have a hard shell. There are times when you will have to argue, negotiate, explain, decline – the list goes on and on!

Then there are times when you have to be like Iron Man’s inside. You have to be understanding and empathetic. At the end of the day, we care about our candidates and clients. Sometimes you have to emphasise with their current situation, or their future choices. Ultimately, you have to understand where they are coming from.

Even though the superpowers of Recruiters are quite different to those of our favourite Marvel movie characters, they definitely share some powerful characteristics.

In recruitment, not one day will be exactly similar to the next. Each placement and situation hold its own new challenges, every new candidate and client is different from the other.

By building on these must-have ‘superpowers’, a Recruiter will not only be more successful, but it will also provide him / her with the confidence to tackle any circumstance.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the employer or company.