10 Survival Tips for New Recruiters

10 Survival Tips for New Recruiters I remember  my  first day on the job clearly, like it was yesterday. I also recall how at the time everything  seemed as clear as mud. In the beginning I had no idea what to really expect from a career in agency recruitment. Id heard all the  great things about the industry, from the great  people to the perks of being out and about;    the pints-a-plenty; the thrill of a new deal; the satisfaction of fulfilling an important client brief; the happiness  in helping someone  bag their dream role. Oh, and Id also heard a thing or two about  the  generous financial incentives (and company trips). It sounded incredible, but  Id also heard about the bad stuff too, from the long hours to the endless amounts of time spent on the phone; the knock backs and industry competitiveness. The first few months really were a baptism of fire. It didnt take long before my eager and open mind was completely  jam-packed  with  new terminology, processes, a hundred-odd colleague names, lists of current and prospective clients, candidate databases and portals full of jobs  I didnt really understand (yet). I felt positively overwhelmed to say the least. Luckily I had a really supportive and inspirational team around me to tell me everything was going to be okay, but still, until that day came when Id found my feet and made my first placement, I couldnt help but fear failing! If I was that new starter again,  here are the 10  things  I would whisper into my own ear to make my life easier: 1. Take your time A new job is always stressful and youre not  expected to pick things up in an instant. Learning takes time and mastering something takes even longer. Dont worry about whether youre getting it quickly enough, or churning out quality results from the get-go. If you dont allow yourself time to let things sink in and learn  the ins and outs of the role  properly, youll end up cutting corners, making mistakes and working yourself up into a stressful lather. Let yourself learn good habits from the beginning and let your speed increase with time; you dont need to be a bull at a gate. 2. Make the call If you put it off, itll only get more daunting. Whether its the first candidate call or the first client call, it doesnt matter. If your manager has entrusted you with giving it a go, take it as a stamp of approval to give it your best shot. The worst thing that can happen, is that you lose your words or feel flustered and stuck if youre put on the spot. Alas! You can keep on using the excuse, Im sorry, Im new please forgive me, let me check with one of my colleagues, for as long as you need. Calls get easier  the more you make, and talking to people in your industry is the best way to  learn first-hand about the industry youre recruiting in. Straight from the horses mouth. 3. Ask the question If you dont ask the question, you wont get the answer you want. Im a big believer in trying to work things out for yourself first, but if you find yourself at a stumbling block, dont waste time by fretting or making matters worse by making the wrong decision. If you have a great manager, theyll tell you that no question is a stupid question, so take their word for it! Even if it is, who cares?  Youre just a newbie, so milk it if  you need to. 4. Dont slack on admin Having  good administrative processes will prove to hugely underpin your success as a 360-degree consultant. When you first start out, its hard to appreciate the importance of recording your calls (in great detail) and creating follow ups and reminders for yourself. CRM systems are designed to make your life easier in the long run, so getting to know the one youll be using will prove absolutely vital to your success. Sure you might remember your first 5 calls pretty well, but 2 weeks down the track you would have made hundreds of calls and sent bucket loads of emails, and it will be one big blur. Its also important to keep on top of admin  even when youre busy and have a million and one deliverables; scrounging for contact details you knew you had once and scratching your head to remember information is a huge waste of time, and means things will probably slip through the cracks, like a deal!! 5. Take people up on their offer to help If youre  working for a profitable agency, you are without doubt surrounded by recruitment legends and experts whove talked the talk and  walked the walk. Grab five minutes with your colleagues to ask advice. Each person will have their own way of doing things, and at such an early stage of your career, the best thing you can do is learn as many tips as possible, and decide for yourself (through trial and error) what works best for you. If your management team offers lunch time training sessions, or one on one excellence coaching, dont view it like extra work, but a way to learn from the best and improve on your own skills. 6. Go to the work drinks, but dont be that person Feeling part of the group and having friends in the office helps to make the office a friendly, comfortable place to be. Socialising with colleagues will give you a better understand of the business, will strengthen your internal network and will allow you to debrief stresses with likeminded people who are in the same boat as you. Its just really important not to drink too much, and be the one who gets super messy and embarrassing. Throwing yourself at a colleague, being sick in the gutter outside the office or revealing too much information about yourself this is what you want to avoid, so you dont have to do a walk of shame into the office the next day wearing your new loose-unit reputation. 7. Take your lunch break When you work long days, its important to make your hours as productive as possible. I used to get fuzzy brain late in the afternoon something chronic, before I started taking my lunch break. When youve got a lot to do, taking time to get some fresh air or go for a walk can seem like a huge waste of half an hour, but it will actually revive you and make you way more alert for the rest of the day. Without a doubt you will come back to the office with a fresh perspective. 8.  You dont have to be an industry expert Your strengths lie in your people  and sales skills; you do not have to be an expert in everything related to your industry straight away. Sure, the more  subject matter knowledge and understanding of the roles you have, the better, but dont  worry about mastering the industry lingo, worry about matching people to your clients brief, and the rest will come with time. 9. Get used to BD all day, every day Always ask questions, dig for new information and  chase leads to bring your business forward. Setting aside specific time for business development is a great idea, but only if you remember to practice it throughout  everything else you do. I was often guilty of focussing  too much on giving  my current clients a great service, and delivering well to live roles, at the expense of all business development. Spreading your eggs across a number of baskets means that if youre left high and dry by a client or candidate, youre never completely out of work. 10. Start early or leave late, never both Whether or not you work overtime is completely up to you. In recruitment, you only get out what you put in, so sometimes youre tempted to work longer hours to maximise your chances at making a fee. My best advice is to pick one; either start early or leave late, but never both. Its important to give yourself time to recover and relax each day, enjoying life outside of work. Stretching your day out at both ends might make you feel like youre the most dedicated consultant in the world, but really, youre probably setting yourself up to burn out! Dont let yourself run out of steam  in the overwhelming early days. Youve got  your whole career ahead of you. Image: Shutterstock