Seasoned Recruiters Critical In Today's Competitive Job Market

Relationship based approach not just important, but crucial

In today's tight job market professional, seasoned recruiters skilled in a relationship based, collaborative approach are more important than ever. To engage and hire the top passive candidates recruiters must connect personally with the candidates and build a relationship. Yes, you heard me right, build a relationship. My firm searches for senior MD candidates in the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on specific therapeutic areas where demand historically has exceeded supply. In this and many other industry positions a transactional approach that relies on social media won't work. Recruiters must engage and then meet and get to know the candidate. Credibility and trust are critical. According to a recent study by Mattersight Corporation, 80% of candidates would take one job over another based on the personal connections formed during the interview process. Personal and emotional connections between recruiter and candidate are key the authors say.

What does this mean for you? It is not about a putting a body in the seat. The recruiter must not only be only be a person who has the appropriate technical and industry skills, but also an empathetic person with life experience who knows how to listen and connect.

Can you get hires with less experienced people. Certainly. They just won't be the good ones. They won't be the candidates that stay. They won't be your leaders of the future because these hires are not the ones who will a make a technological, financial and cultural impact on your company. If you really want top candidates, hire top recruiters.