What is the hardest part of being a recruiter?
There are tons of wonderful benefits for becoming a recruiter. For instance, it's rewarding, you're constantly learning something new, and it's a social job that will never leave you bored or twiddling your thumbs. But, saying all that, recruitment also has its challenges.
Accepting Failure
As a recruiter, you may make a few mistakes here or there throughout the recruitment process, but that's how you learn and become a better recruiter!
In this case, we're talking about something else.
If you have put forward a candidate that you have built a brilliant rapport with and you've done everything you can for them throughout their interview process, it can be difficult when a client chooses another candidate over your own for the position.
It's important to note that this is not failure, even though a recruiter may interpret it as such. That being said, this is one of the main stresses that recruiters face on a day-to-day basis. However, dealing with this type of rejection and realising that it isn't failure comes with time and experience.
Inconsistent Hours
If you're networking and searching for passive candidates or potential candidates that are currently in a job, it's unlikely that they'll have time to reply to your emails or messages throughout the day. You'll probably find that they actively reply in the mornings before work, or when they get home in the evenings.
This can be stressful for recruiters, as you may feel the need to reply instantly, despite not being at work. Sometimes, depending on the situation, you may need to reply to an email the evening before a next-day interview or answer an urgent query for a candidate.
It's important to note that this isn't encouraged unless absolutely necessary, but if you're a senior recruiter, you may find that you have to work overtime or at inconsistent hours more frequently. Being a senior or specialist recruiter does have its rewards, however!
Finding a Work/Life Balance
Recruiters can get very absorbed in their day-to-day tasks. Whether it be replying to emails, scanning CVs or screening candidates, it can be easy to get tunnel vision as a busy recruiter. At HRS, we understand how hard our recruiters work, so we do our best to ensure that our employees have a healthy work/life balance. However, some recruiters do not have the tools available to do this, which can be stressful.
There are many reasons why recruiters may struggle with their work/life balance.
- Recruiters and candidates can easily form an emotional bond through building a meaningful rapport which can be difficult to separate from your own personal emotions. For instance, if your candidate doesn't get selected by the client for the position.
- The potential inconsistent hours can disrupt a recruiter's schedule and this can be hard to manage.
- Due to the fast-paced nature of recruitment, recruiters can often overwork themselves or forget to give themselves a well-deserved break.
We always recommend frequent breaks, walks, talks with colleagues, and enjoyable lunch breaks to split up the working day.
Dealing With Competition
There are tons of recruitment agencies out there, and there are recruitment agencies that specialise in certain sectors or industries similar to your own. As a recruiter, you may find that your ideal candidate has started corresponding with another recruitment agency, or you may find that your client has chosen a candidate that has been put forward by another agency.
This is obviously disheartening and difficult to deal with, and it can put a downer on a recruiter's mood which can be stressful. Ultimately, it's important to remember that you are working with humans and decisions can change at the drop of the hat for a range of reasons.
As long as you do your all for your candidates and you take the above points in consideration, you'll be a great recruiter and this will shine through to your potential candidates.
