Recruitment is all about selling. Whether you’re a recruiter, candidate or employer it’s all about selling yourself to the other party.
The recruiters want candidates they can sell to potential employers, so the candidates should be able to sell themselves to the recruiter and then the employer who in turn should be able to sell themselves to the candidate.
It’s a constant battle and to give yourself every chance of making sure you’re on the winning side you should ensure you match up on certain key qualities.
Here are some tips on how to shine for the things that make a recruiter see you as “the one”.
Honesty
Recruiters like nothing better than talking with an honest candidate, someone who is able to explain their current situation in a frank and open conversation, that way both parties know exactly where they stand. Candidates who are able to explain their choices, successes and failures with candour mean the recruiter in turn can pass on a glowing report for the potential employer and there’s no less chance of any nasty surprises in the later stages of the interviewing process.
Passion
Passion is like love, you can’t always describe it but you know it when you find it. A candidate who loves what they do is a dream placement for a recruiter. There’s nothing wrong with moving for financial reasons but if it’s allied with a longing to work in a particular field, role of company then the best recruiter will know how to match that with the right company.
Curious (proactive)
A good candidate will be curious about the role, the company and the background to all aspects of the job. The more they ask the more they’ll be able to explain exactly what appeals to them about a prospective new role. This really helps recruiters to build momentum and can also help the recruiter go back to the employer to ask them for more background which can help their profile too. People who are curious about roles often become great employees as they’re motivated and tend towards innovation.
Flexibility (open to change/adapt themselves)
Candidates who are flexible are a boon to recruiters who themselves may have looked outside of the normal to find new candidates. By being flexible and considering roles in sectors that may be linked but not identical to their current roles they can bring fresh insight and experience that employers themselves might not have considered. Candidates who demonstrate flexibility are often good problem solvers who are quickly able to adapt themselves to new situations and they’ll embrace change positively.
Team oriented
Candidates can be expected to talk about themselves of course, but a good recruiter will be on the look-out for candidates who appreciate and acknowledge a strong team ethos. Candidates with a great team spirit are often eager to share information, talk with their colleagues and build strong relationships to enhance their own performance and that of their employer. These are often well suited to taking the next step up the career ladder as well and can be a really powerful addition to new companies.
No list is exhaustive and there are many other qualities than can be unique to a role or sector that won’t make any general list. But the next time you’re speaking to a recruiter or thinking about reviewing your CV consider the qualities we’ve included here and you’ll be giving yourself every chance of standing out from the crowd and landing your next role.
These tips have been put together by Chloe Terriere, member of our Talent Acquisition Team in Belgium. If you're interested in receiving further advice, get in touch with our Belgium Team, email: [email protected], phone: +32 (0)2 233 12 34.